microuavs
1
EYE SPY ISSUE 3 1 , 2005 EYE SPY ISSUE 3 1 , 2005 42 43 COURTESY: USAF information would be at the fingertips of the device’s user. No longer is this science fiction, but rather science fact. Creating micro flying devices has been hindered by our inability to mimic the flight characteristics of insects. Some of the first aviators tried to fly by duplicating the complex and incredibly quick motion of flapping wings. The inventor would place himself in an awkward wooden contraption and set in motion a couple of lifelike wings - he usually ended up peddling over a cliff edge. All such efforts failed, and many pioneers lost their lives. It’s ironic therefore that over a hundred years later scientists in America and England are confident that they are now beginning to understand the incredible ‘flapping wing motion’ of bees, flies and butterflies. Eagle- eyed watchers from the world of intelligence recognise that if scientists now understand the technology, there is a real possibility it could be duplicated. The CIA and other US defence agencies are working alongside a number of groups linked to this research. A prototype flying drone measuring less than half-an-inch has already been built, and there are plans afoot to build even smaller drones. One promising invention flies by flapping two micro-thin membranes (wings). Sceptics believe it would be impossi- ble to attach even the slightest weight to this device (cameras, audio etc.), but scientists Mimicking the movement of a fly DIAGRAM: JEN PHILPOT Motor and Heat Sinks 8 gm Propeller 2 gm Power Converter 1 gm Primary Batteries 26 gm Downlink transmitter 1.4 gm Control Actuator 0.5 gm Video Camera 2 gm Gyro 1 gm Pressure Sensor 6 gm Magnetometer 0.5 gm Uplink Receiver 3 gm Flight Computers 1 gm The tiny Black Widow UAV The B2 flying wing is a splendid example of an aircraft carrying an array of advanced technology. Now US scientists are on the verge of developing microscopic flying devices that will conduct surveillance operations and much more... The pioneering DARPA-backed AeroVironment MAV Black Widow project is already 20-years old. The device weighed just two ounces and had a six-inch wingspan Another AeroVironment project. Note the real-time video footage provided by this MAV MicroFly n a small room in Langley, CIA analysts digest a plethora of top secret projects that are on the verge of moving espionage techniques and counterterrorism opera- tions well into the future. Indeed, only a few years ago some of the projects and technology available today, would have been more at home seated on sets built for Hollywood’s science fiction movie industry. Today, the creators of some quite astonishing technology are on the verge of staggering inventions that will almost certainly re-invent the spying game. In the last edition of Eye Spy, we examined how Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are becoming a common sight in our skies, especially over war zones. They are also being used commercially by all manor of companies and scientists who now recognise that they offer cheap and alternative methods for surveillance. These remarkable creations have the ability to perform a range of tasks from striking terrorist safe houses, to 24-hour surveillance on oil pipe lines. UAVs come in all shapes and sizes and have various power sources. This often governs just how long they can stay aloft and the type of task each device can undertake. Military and government contract companies are not the only organisations to realise the unique potential of UAVs. Those charged with intelligence gathering of a different kind are now taking a serious interest in unmanned surveillance devices. Imagine a spying device that not only flies like an insect, but is as small as an insect. Undetected and almost silent, the world’s most secure buildings would be vulnerable. Access to top secret meetings and SPECIAL FEATURE I Pilot-Static Probe 1 gm
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Pressure Sensor 6 gm Control Actuator 0.5 gm The pioneering DARPA-backed AeroVironment MAV Black Widow project is already 20-years old. The device weighed just two ounces and had a six-inch wingspan Downlink transmitter 1.4 gm Propeller 2 gm information would be at the fingertips of the device’s user. No longer is this science fiction, but rather science fact. Another AeroVironment project. Note the real-time video footage provided by this MAV Primary Batteries 26 gm DIAGRAM: JEN PHILPOT
Transcript of microuavs
E Y E S P Y I S S U E 3 1 , 2 0 0 5 E Y E S P Y I S S U E 3 1 , 2 0 0 542 43
COURTESY: USAF
information would be at the fingertips of thedevice’s user. No longer is this science fiction,but rather science fact.
Creating micro flying devices has beenhindered by our inability to mimic the flightcharacteristics of insects. Some of the first
aviators tried to fly by duplicating the complexand incredibly quick motion of flapping wings.The inventor would place himself in anawkward wooden contraption and set inmotion a couple of lifelike wings - he usuallyended up peddling over a cliff edge. All suchefforts failed, and many pioneers lost their
lives. It’s ironic therefore that over a hundredyears later scientists in America and Englandare confident that they are now beginning tounderstand the incredible ‘flapping wingmotion’ of bees, flies and butterflies. Eagle-eyed watchers from the world of intelligencerecognise that if scientists now understand thetechnology, there is a real possibility it couldbe duplicated.
The CIA and other US defence agencies areworking alongside a number of groups linkedto this research. A prototype flying dronemeasuring less than half-an-inch has alreadybeen built, and there are plans afoot to buildeven smaller drones. One promising inventionflies by flapping two micro-thin membranes(wings). Sceptics believe it would be impossi-ble to attach even the slightest weight to thisdevice (cameras, audio etc.), but scientists
Mimicking the movement of a fly
DIAGRAM: JEN PHILPOT
Motor and Heat Sinks8 gm
Propeller2 gm
PowerConverter
1 gm
PrimaryBatteries26 gm
Downlinktransmitter
1.4 gm
Control Actuator0.5 gm
VideoCamera
2 gm
Gyro1 gm
Pressure Sensor6 gm
Magnetometer0.5 gm
Uplink Receiver3 gm
Flight Computers1 gm
The tiny Black Widow UAV
The B2 flying wing is a splendid example of an aircraft carryingan array of advanced technology. Now US scientists are on theverge of developing microscopic flying devices that will conductsurveillance operations and much more...
The pioneering DARPA-backed AeroVironment MAV Black Widow project is already20-years old. The device weighed just two ounces and had a six-inch wingspan
AnotherAeroVironment
project. Note thereal-time video
footage providedby this MAV
MicroFly
n a small room in Langley, CIA analystsdigest a plethora of top secret projects thatare on the verge of moving espionagetechniques and counterterrorism opera-tions well into the future. Indeed, only afew years ago some of the projects andtechnology available today, would havebeen more at home seated on sets built for
Hollywood’s science fiction movie industry.Today, the creators of some quite astonishingtechnology are on the verge of staggeringinventions that will almost certainly re-inventthe spying game.
In the last edition of Eye Spy, we examinedhow Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) arebecoming a common sight in our skies,especially over war zones. They are also beingused commercially by all manor of companiesand scientists who now recognise that theyoffer cheap and alternative methods forsurveillance. These remarkable creations havethe ability to perform a range of tasks fromstriking terrorist safe houses, to 24-hoursurveillance on oil pipe lines. UAVs come in allshapes and sizes and have various powersources. This often governs just how longthey can stay aloft and the type of task eachdevice can undertake.
Military and government contract companiesare not the only organisations to realise theunique potential of UAVs. Those charged withintelligence gathering of a different kind arenow taking a serious interest in unmannedsurveillance devices. Imagine a spying devicethat not only flies like an insect, but is as smallas an insect. Undetected and almost silent, theworld’s most secure buildings would bevulnerable. Access to top secret meetings and
SPECIAL FEATURE
I
Pilot-StaticProbe 1 gm
