A new electric air vehicle is under development. The HawkMoth UAV is designed for high performance and features powerplant modules ( 450 and 750 Watt) and two wing sizes (71" span for duration and a 52" speed wing.) This vehicle will carry the BTC-88 Retract unit and will also feature a 101 retract with an IR camera sensor. Specifications and video footage will be available soon.

 

Some modified BTC-101's have been delivered to Honeywell for testing on the their hovering MAV.

 

March 2007

A vehicle for NC² has been built under the constraint of a tube launched UAV.  Deployment scheme has been finalized and mechanisms are under development.  Prototype pictures and a video can be found on the Airframes Page.

 

Due to significant interest in the retracting of our camera units, updates have been made and the BTC-40 R is an all new retracting module.  It's now a stand alone unit with shock isolated mounts available with or without doors.  In this version the door is actuated by a separate servo.  Sequencing of the retracting/extending ball and the doors can be accomplished via the autopilot programming or in a manual version by utilizing servo sequencers that are normally used for landing gear doors.

The BTC-88 is currently being fight tested by Procerus Technologies, and is also available in a retracting version.

Additionally, we have been developing a rip stop skin for use on light weight EPP flying surfaces.

 

July 2006

With a total weight of around 100 grams, a retractable camera is scheduled to be unveiled at the AUVSI trade show in August.  The unit features a BTC-40 with a retract mechanism that includes "Beetle Wing" carbon fiber protective doors.

The all new BTC-88 Ball Turret Camera is set to be introduced at the trade show as well.  Using the venerable Sony FCB-IX 10:1 zoom color block camera with an overall weight of just over 7 oz.

UAV Pro took a delivery of a three vehicle Scythe system and will be conducting tests and integrating our newest payloads.

 

April 2006

A revolutionary new micro video system, combining dynamic “tilt & pan” aiming with an electronically stabilized, high resolution CCD color camera, will bring unprecedented observation capabilities to Micro Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (MAV's) and in other space-limited, weight-sensitive applications.

The Micro UAV Ball Turret Camera Patent Pending features an advanced NTSC ¼ inch .9 Lux CCD head, with an electronic iris and a resolution of better than 450 lines.  In airborne test installations, the unit has demonstrated the ability to track using GPS coordinates and autopilot software to capture quality images of the designated target, using field changeable lens options that range from 1.9mm wide angle to 12 mm.  The unit measures just 3 in. long by 1.5 in. wide and 2.125 inches tall (2.75 in max. height including ball), and has a total weight under 65 grams. The unit is easily set up for stabilized operation with the addition of a roll axis rocker mounting plate. The normal tilt function within the unit is incorporated into the pitch axis of the stabilizing hardware. Innovative engineering and the use of carbon fiber and other robust components make the camera unit relatively sturdy while keeping weight the foremost priority.

The Micro Ball Turret can rotate (pan function) slightly more than 360 degrees in less than one second.  Tilt takes a quarter of that time.  With high quality components in precision geometry and riding on self-lubricating ball bearings, the camera achieves this rapid motion with very low inertia, facilitating smooth, vibration-free tracking of subjects.  The design uses no slip rings and is completely noise free. The unit’s “dynamic wire” fine strand camera harnessing is wound on a take-up reel and has been cycle tested for long life.

Beta Ball Turret Cameras have been flown by Cyber Defense “CyberBug” and a UAV test platform flown by Procerus Technologies.