Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

• AAI Corporation  The subsidiary of United Industrial Corporation which produces unmanned air vehicles (UAVs), including the Shadow 200 and Shadow 600 models.
• Advanced Ceramics Research  Producer of the Silver Fox, a small, lightweight, inexpensive and expendable unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that can fly autonomously for long durations and is capable of providing low cost aerial surveillance imaging and carry sensor payload packages.
• Aerial Information Systems Corporation  AISC provides a range of remote sensing and advertising products and services using small UAVs.  AISC also builds its own line of small UAVs and payloads.
• The Aerosonde Robotic Aircraft  A small, economic, and operationally flexible UAV with a flight capability in excess of 30hrs/3000km and designed for meteorological and environmental observations, and surveillance over oceanic, remote, and hazardous areas.
• Aero Telemetry Corporation  Designs and manufactures full-sized unmanned air vehicles, as well as integrated telemetry systems and related subsystem components for military and commercial applications.  Also, they sell and service Microdyne telemetry related products.
• AeroVironment  Develops breakthrough aerial vehicles for a wide range of applications, including unmanned aircraft for communications, reconnaissance and research, as well as high-altitude unmanned solar-electric airplanes.
• Airborne Autonomous Systems  AAS's primary focus is pursuing the civil and commercial UAV market with a proprietary aircraft (HOVTOL).  AAS expects to make manned versions in addition to UAV's.
• ARM Unmanned Aerial Vehicles  Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) program support through long duration flights at the top of the tropopause.
• Aurora Flight Sciences  Develops robotic aircraft, rapid prototyping of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), composite and metal manufacturing, fault-tolerant software, and UAV flight services.
• BAI Aerosystems, Inc.  A full-service UAV manufacturer that offers a complete family of aircraft (ranging from back-packable electric to ultra-light in class), digital flight controllers (autopilots), datalinks (command/control, video/telemetry), EO/IR/ChemBio/Radar/Psyops payloads, and many support equipment items, including pneumatic launchers and starters.  The company has produced over 1,000 small UAVs, mostly for the U.S. DOD.  BAI also supplies equipment to other UAV manufacturers worldwide.
• Bell Eagle Eye TiltRotor UAV  A small scale tiltrotor demonstrator designed and fabricated by Scaled Composites, with potential for future applications to VTOL UAV missions.
• Boeing X-40A  Boeing home page for the X-40A with photos and information.
• Bombardier Aerospace / Unmanned Aerial Vehicle  The CL-327 advanced vertical takeoff and landing surveillance system designed for intelligence gathering.
• Bosch Aerospace  Developer and manufacturer of several unconventional Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAV's).
• buse-zobflyer drones  Site web Français d'ingenierie drones.  Conception fabrication d'aéronefs télépilotés pour photos, vidéo, surveillance, etc.  French web site for engineering drones.  Conception and manufacture of remotely-piloted aircraft for photographs, video, monitoring, etc.
• Challis-Heliplane UAV  Smooth easy transition from hover to cruise, excellent control in the hover, capable of autorotation-engine off emergency landing, capable of high rate of descent, can be scaled to meet various civilian or military needs.
• CMS Race Performance  A manufacturing, design, and supply business which specialises in manufacturing products for many industries, including the KAHU Unmanned Aerial Vehicle.
• Cyber Defense Systems Inc.  This operating subsidiary of Proxity, Inc. is a development company providing unmanned aircraft for national defense, law enforcement, monitoring natural resources. or in assisting companies requiring security of assets.
• Dragon Eye Unmanned Aerial Vehicle  A five-pound, back-packable, modular unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) designed to provide the Marine small unit commander with a reconnaissance and surveillance capability to see over the next hill or building.  See also the GlobalSecurity.org page.
• DRS Unmanned Technologies, Inc.  Close-range, low-weight, low-noise, medium-duration UAVs supporting military special operations missions. Applications for these products include tactical short-range surveillance, radio relay, and command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR).  Formerly the U.S.-based Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) business of Meggitt Defense Systems - Texas, Inc., a unit of Meggitt plc.
• ERV Group Co., Ltd  Multi-purpose modular UAV's equipped with client-specific or their own CACS (Command and Control System) and the associated components.  Products targeted for both the military and commercial sectors.  Both fixed and rotary UAV platforms available.
• Firescout VTUAV Unmanned Aerial Vehicle  In February 2000, the US Navy chose the Model 379 FireScout as its vertical take-off and landing tactical unmanned air vehicle (VTUAV).
• General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.  Dedicated to the design, development, and manufacture of unmanned aircraft surveillance systems and associated hardware.
• Global Aerial Surveillance  Providing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV's) to the civilian and military markets for a myriad of potential applications.  Global intends to concentrate its development and marketing efforts in small, underserved niches where it can compete aggressively with pricing and service exceeding the competition.
• The Insitu Group  Miniature unmanned robotic aircraft fly over the world's oceans and remote areas.
• Integrated Dynamics  Design, consultancy, and turn-key project commissioning for Unmanned Autonomous Vehicle (UAV) and Remotely Piloted Vehicle (RPV) systems.  Target and decoy UAVs, surveillance UAVs, flight control and navigational systems, ground control stations, and more.
• Lonsan Aircraft  Unmanned RPV RC airships with a 1000 meter control range, 30 KM range UAV airships, one-man airships, and tethered airships.
• Marcus UAV Systems  Manufacturer of the low-cost Marcus UAV systems for distribution to the private sector.  These offer video and sound on demand, and are an alternative to flying traditional aircraft for surveillance, aerial photography, exploration, disaster recovery, and other uses.
• Mist Mobility Integrated Systems Technology Inc.  MMIST produces the SnowGoose UAV, an aerial cargo delivery UAV with up to 575 pounds of autonomous cargo delivery.  Safe and accurate delivery of critical supplies and aerial services in support of search and rescue, humanitarian relief, and military operations in hostile environments.  Also, they produce GPS-guided parachute delivery systems in use by various national military organizations.
• NAVY Unmanned Aerial Vehicles  The official U.S. Navy web site for the Pioneer, Fire Scout, Global Hawk, BAMS, J-UCAS, and other UAVs.
• NOAA Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)  Information on NOAA's Unmanned Aircraft Systems activities.
• Northrop Grumman X-47B J-UCAS  A stealth, unmanned attack aircraft.  Data sheet and photo gallery.
• Pioneer UAV, Inc.  In 1991, AAI Corporation and Israel Aircraft Industries, Ltd., the original developers of the Pioneer UAV system, formed a jointly owned corporation to manage the program and function as the prime contractor to the US Government for all Pioneer Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Program related activities.
• Proxy Aviation Systems, Inc.  Develops advanced Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) for use by the United States military, the Department of Homeland Security, and in emerging civil and international applications. Proxy offers two unmanned air vehicle platforms: the SkyWatcher and the SkyRaider heavy payload UAV. The aircraft operate concurrently in flight, with as many as 12 air vehicles, to achieve Group Tactical Goals, under the SkyForce Distributed Management System (DMS).
• Rotomotion  Designs, manufactures, and operates helicopter robots (UAV) and aerial robotic systems designed to be affordable aerial platforms for small cameras and other sensor payloads for aerial photography, surveillance, and research.
• ScanEagle UAV  Boeing and The Insitu Group have developed and built a low-cost, long-endurance autonomous unmanned vehicle for military and homeland security applications based on Insitu's Seascan miniature robotic aircraft.  ScanEagle is four-feet long, has a 10-foot wingspan, and can remain on station for more than 15 hours.  Future planned variants will have an endurance of more than 30 hours.
• Soko Z.I.  An aerospace company located in Zagreb, Croatia with a multidisciplinary team developing high-tech products such as unmanned aerial vehicles and flight simulators.
• Southwell Murphy & Associates  SMA is a security and management consultancy that also sells security and surveillance technologies (UAVs and Aerostats) in Aust, NZ, Asia and the Pacific regions.  Security and surveillence systems and products include the Peregrine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle System, the Vigilant Aerial Surveillance System and Ultralight Electro Optical Payload for UAVs.
• Tactical Aerospace Group  High performance UAV VTOL technology for advanced applications and payloads.  (Tactical unmanned helicopters.)
• United Industrial Corporation  Products from this maker of unmanned aerial vehicles include the U.S. Army Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (TUAV) program.
• Utva Aircraft Industry  An aircraft manufacturer in Serbia and Montenegro producing general aviation, military, ultralight, and unmanned aerial vehicles, including the Raven and UTVA.

UAV Components & Systems

• A2TECH - Advanced Aviation Technology  Their primary focus is the development of a new generation of unmanned vehicle Ground Control Cockpits and avionic solutions for civil applications.
• Advanced Microwave Products  AMP designs and manufactures rugged RF and microwave products for UAV, military, and surveillance applications, including compact UHF, L-band, S-Band, and C-band video transmitters and receivers.
• Aegis Electronic Group, Inc.  A distributor for cameras and peripherals for UAVs and other related applications.  Experienced with imaging, technical support, and integration of imaging equipment for technical applications.
• Aerosight Innovations  Offering video and still camera solutions for remotely piloted vehicle applications, including aerial photography, airborne media presentations, and surveillance.
• Airborne Innovations  A supplier of advanced UAV systems including SatCam imaging for UAV's, and Aircraft Icing Conditions Detection systems.  SatCam is a miniature satellite communications imaging solution, compatible with the Iridium satellite network, that enables remote imaging anywhere in the world, anytime, for small over the horizon capable UAVs.  The system combines the best available low bandwidth optimized image compression technology with a robust image transmission protocol capable of transmitting streaming still images over ultra low bandwidth links.
• Applied Systems Engineering, Inc.  Supplier of UAV guidance, navigation and control systems.
• Athena Technologies, Inc.  A leading developer and manufacturer of control and navigation solutions for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs,) and military and civilian manned aircraft.
• Automation Technologies, LLC  Orientation and inertial sensors, and embedded hardware and software for unmanned air vehicles.
• Autopilot: DIY UAV  "Helping everyone build unmanned aerial vehicles."  This project was started as a result of an inability to learn to fly remote control helicopters.  Instead of admitting defeat, the project is to design the hardware and software necessary to have an onboard computer fly the helicopters.  Also an interesting blog.
• Avalon RF  State-of-the-art wireless links that include receivers, transmitters, remote display units (RDU's) and a variety of specialized antennas.  Applications include unmanned vehicles, as well as security, broadcasting and cinematography, and consumer (fast H.264 over POTS Lines).
• CDL Systems  Delvelops Vehicle Control Station Software (VCS), an intergrated command control and information system for the control and monitoring of unmanned aerial, land, and sea based vehicles.  The VCS 4586 complies with NATO's 4586 UAV interoperability standards and is currently being utilized in the US Army's "One System."
• Cloud Cap Technology  Specializes in sophisticated autopilots for small unmanned aircraft, and hardware and software development for embedded systems.
• Custom UAV  CUAV flight control system is an open source flight controller which can use a 3-axis magnetometer and accellerometer to determine attitude.  There is provision for more sensors for higher order flight control.  The site has forums, an editable event calander, live chat, links, and projects.
• Eagle Tree Systems  Manufacturer of data logging and wireless telemetry for the RC model enthusiast, serious RC competitor, UAV designer, or professional platform operator.  USB data recorders capture airspeed, altitude, RPM, temperature, servo channel movements, receiver voltage.  Google Earth real time and recorded GPS support.  International shipping.
• Electronic Concepts & Engineering, Inc.  Design and manufacture of electronic and software solutions for UAVs, and other aerospace applications.
• Geneva Aerospace  State-of-the-art guidance and autopilot solutions for cost-effective and reliable precision control solutions for complex UAV systems.
• Guided Systems Technologies  Development and application of advanced guidance, navigation, and control system technology for a variety of fixed and rotary-wing UAV systems.  Estimation, path planning, obstacle/collision avoidance products and technology, as well as R&D, engineering, integration, and flight services.
• Hanley Innovations  They develop software for the aerodynamics conceptual design and analysis of UAVs and other aircraft systems.
• Markland Technologies, Inc.  The EOIR Technologies Inc. wholly owned subsidiary of this integrated homeland security company has developed and delivered an integrated sensor suite for counter terrorism surveillance.  The suite is designed for use aboard man portable Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) platforms.
• MathStar  Specializes in high performance programmable logic solutions for image and digital signal processing.  FPOAs for UAVs and a broad range of military and aerospace applications.
• Meggitt Defense Systems  A designer and manufacturer of aerial towed vehicle systems and related equipment for special applications.  (Threat simulation scenarios for combat readiness training, and weapon testing evaluation.)
• MicroPilot  Low-cost miniature autopilots suitable for UAV and RPV use which provide airframe stabilization and autonomous GPS navigation.  Many UAV experimenter's links.
• Optical Alchemy Inc.  Sensor systems that provide applications for reconnaissance, surveillance, target acquisition (RSTA), situational awareness, and force protection.  Ultra-light inertial stabilized sensor systems
• R3 Scientific Corp  A small company specializing in design, development, and manufacturing of next generation aerial robotic solutions.  The Company has created a range of intelligent solutions, including unique control algorithms, data fusion methods, navigation and optical recognition systems, actuators, and complete vertical takeoff and landing vehicles.
• RCAT Systems  Manufacturer of wireless electronics and data acquisition/telemetry solutions for unmanned systems and experimental aircraft.
• Robonic Ltd.  Site for pneumatic UAV launchers.
• Teledesign Systems, Inc.  A manufacturer of wireless modems and radio modems for commercial and industrial applications, including UAV operation.  Their radio modem sends "radio data" across narrow band spectrum or narrow band licensed spectrum.
• Teledyne Technologies  Gas turbine engines for unmanned military aircraft, including remotely piloted vehicles, missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
• UAV Flight Systems  Provides low cost flight control systems for the emerging "backpackable" UAV market.
• Unav, Inc.  Low-cost INS/GPS autopilot systems for unamanned guidance and control.
• weControl  Flight control systems for unmanned aerial vehicles.

UAV Services

• ISR Group, LLC  Providing highly skilled manpower and contracted support for the development and deployment of unmanned vehicle systems in the areas of research and development, production, operations, maintenance, and training.
• Navigator Development Group Inc.  NDGI is a provider of contract support to the US Joint Forces Command's Joint UAS Center of Excellence and the US Army's UAS Center of Excellence.  Navigator assists the development, evaluation, and integration of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) operating standards, capabilities, concepts of operations, technologies, tactics, techniques, procedures, and training for the Department of Defense through coordination with the combatant commanders, service centers of excellence, and other UAS enterprise activity.
• Simlat Ltd.  A provider of next generation mission-training solutions for the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle/System (UAV/UAS) and the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) industry.  Simlat provides high-end ISR and UAV/UAS mission training systems and simulators and additional professional services and instructors.
• UAV Advanced Systems Ltd  Advanced design of UAV aircraft and avionics packages, including UAV training systems.
• UAV Technical Analysis and Applications Center  TAAC is a business unit of the Physical Science Laboratory, New Mexico State University, and offers a wide range of services to its UAV customers, including R&D, engineering, flight and test planning and operations, analysis, and simulation.

UAV Initiatives

• Access 5  A U.S. national project sponsored by NASA - with participation by the FAA, DoD, and industry - to introduce high altitude long endurance (HALE) remotely operated aircraft (ROA) to routine flight in the National Airspace System (NAS).
• FLAVIIR  A research program looking at technologies for future unmanned air vehicles (UAV) funded jointly by BAE SYSTEMS and EPSRC.  The challenge is "to develop technologies for a maintenance free, low cost UAV without conventional control surfaces and without performance penalty over conventional craft."
• Future Combat Systems (U.S. Army)  FCS is the core building block of the Army's Future Force.  The FCS-equipped Unit of Action (UA) consists of three FCS-equipped Combined Arms Battalions (CABs), a Non-Line-of-Sight (NLOS) Cannon Battalion, a Reconnaissance Surveillance and Target Acquisition (RSTA) Squadron, a Forward Support Battalion (FSB), a Brigade Intelligence and Communications Company (BICC), and a Headquarters Company.  See the Unmanned Air Vehicle section.
• HALE ROA in the NAS  A NASA-led project intended to eventually enable remotely or autonomously operated aircraft to fly safely and routinely with other aircraft within the national airspace system.
• Unite  An alliance of companies formed to pursue the common objective of creating the capability for UAVs (unmanned air vehicles) to "file and fly" in the National Airspace System (NAS).

Environmental Research Aircraft and Sensor Technology

• ERAST  The U.S. national program for developing remotely piloted aircraft for scientific, humanitarian, and commercial purposes.  Sponsored by NASA.
• Environmental Research Aircraft and Sensor Technology  The NASA Glenn Research Center supports aeropropulsion and power technology development for the ERAST Project led by NASA Dryden Research Center.
• Helios (Dryden Flight Research Center)  This solar powered prototype UAV has a mission to first reach an altitude of 100,000 ft. with a small payload, then to fly above 50,000 ft. for 96 hours.

Other UAV Sites

• The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International  AUVSI is the world's largest non-profit organization devoted exclusively to advancing the unmanned systems community.  AUVSI, with members from government organizations, industry and academia, is committed to fostering, developing, and promoting unmanned systems and related technologies.
• FAS - Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)  A very good source for UAV information with an overview, UAV categories, vehicle descriptions, photos, and specifications.  Also links to sources and resources.  From the Federation of American Scientists Intelligence Resource Program.
• Google Open Directory  Recreation > Aviation > Military > UAV.
• A Primer on Using CFD to Tackle UAV Aerodynamics Problems  This white paper introduces you to the types of aerodynamic problems that are typically solved using computational fluid dynamics software.  The paper consists of a series of case studies, each of which includes the motivation for applying fluids engineering to that particular problem.  This will be of interest to those tasked to solve problems involving the aerodynamics of an unmanned air system.  From Fluent, a supplier of CFD software and services.
• Remote Control Aerial Photography Association  A professional association of dedicated remote control aerial photographers.  RCAPA provides operational safety guidelines, best business practices, networking and new technology information.
• Smart UAV Development Center  Korean developer of UAV technologies.
• UAV Center  Provides detailed information on unmanned aerial vehicles including historical perspectives, detailed technical data, and operating system overviews.
• UAV Forum  This site seeks to be the definitive website on the subject of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.  Includes an extensive list of vehicles, a calendar of UAV events, news, references, photo gallery, video theater, links to sites offering scale desktop models of UAVs, and companies.
• UAV Info  The overall objective of this site is to make international UAV-related information (at system and sub-system level) available to the global UAV community, and to promote international awareness of UAV-related matters.  Includes UAV Yearbook, photo library, specifications, projects, UAV terminology, datasheets, links.
• UAV Marketspace  This web portal is focused principally on commercial (civil) UAV use and application, but it also has a significant set of military UAV airframe resources and links.  You can spend a lot of time exploring this site and learning a great deal about this subject.
• uavworld.com  A guide to worldwide news, legislation and system/technology developments for international military, civil and commercial UAV markets.
• Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)  A blog with "All things Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), Aerial Robots and Robotics, Micro Aircraft and Helicopters"
• Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)  A blog with UAV news, information, links.
• Unmanned Vehicles  A quarterly publication with a mission to convince key policy makers in industry and governments of the capabilities offered by UVs in difficult environments.
• The Unmanned Vehicles Handbook  Over 200 specifications for air, land, and marine vehicles.  Reviews of UAV programmes, product guide, suppliers' guide, market analysis, calendar of events.
• Unmanned Vehicle Systems International  This web site explains the UCARE (UAVs: Concerted Actions for required REgulations) Programme.  It also provides access to an online collection of international UAV-related airworthiness and air traffic management documents, a list of UAV-related terms and definitions, as well as a list of UAV-related acroyms.
• Uvonline.com  A global news and business information service for the unmanned systems community.