Micro Air Vehicle

Utilising numerous COTS components, CAD, CAM and an advanced EPP (Expanding Polypropylene) foam airframe the MAV demonstrates 22 minutes of endurance in a hand launched, man portable package costing just £150. Modifications to the airframe yield a potential increase in endurance to 30 minutes.

The demonstrator is being developed under a project currently being funded by the MoD’s Corporate Research Programme with the aim of “exploring concepts in flight control, autopilot functions and autonomy for a hand launched aircraft”. In addition to this BBSR also hopes to develop its rapid prototyping capabilities allowing for much quicker demonstration of payloads and vehicles than is currently available.

A number of roles have been identified for such small aircraft; the most obvious being local area reconnaissance and surveillance. More diverse tasks such as placing sensors in remote, hard to reach areas are also possible.

With the development of more advanced autopilots and sense and avoid technology MAVs will be able to take full advantage of there small size by allowing soldiers to view inside cave systems, bunkers and buildings without risking life and limb. This ability may also have applications in civilian search and rescue operations.

Along with the development of the MAV BBSR has also designed and produced a miniature (100x40x15mm) surveillance autopilot system (SNAP) which it hopes to put into production sometime in the first half of 2006.

Specifications

Manufacturer – Blue Bear Systems Research
Target Market (Military/ Civilian etc) –
Type –
Role(s) –
Wingspan –
Length –
Height –
Weight (Empty) –
MTOW –
Max Payload –
Power Plant –
Max Speed –
Cruise Speed –
Stall Speed –
Max Operating Radius –
Max Ferry Range –
Max Ceiling –
Typical Operating Altitude –
Max Endurance – 22 minutes (being increased to approx 30 minutes)
Launch Method(s) – Hand launched
Recovery Method(s) –

External Links

www.bluebearsystems.com