US Navy foresees an uncrewed future for its surface and underwater fleet
The service has been conducting various procurement and development efforts to integrate unmanned surface and underwater vehicles into its inventory.
Indiana Unmanned Aircraft Systems (IUAS), a Muncie, Indiana based aerospace company and manufacturer of small unmanned aircraft systems, announced the first successful test flight of its Im VII Air Vehicle Two (Im VII AV-2) took place on Saturday, November 8. The platform flew flawlessly in less than perfect flight conditions of sustained winds at 15 knots with gusts up to 25 knots.
Im VII AV-2 represents over six years of research and development into small flying wing aircraft that do not require an onboard flight computer to remain stable in the air. The company is the only designer and manufacturer of all-wing aircraft developed specifically for precision agriculture imaging applications. "Our all-wing platforms are world leaders in payload lifting and flight endurance capability as compared to similar-size aircraft of conventional designs," says Jeff Imel designer of the Im VII and company founder. The aircraft is integrated to hyper-spectral cameras for use in precision agriculture image capture and analysis. The images are used by growers to determine the health of their crops, insect infestation, storm damage assessment and nitrogen run-off analysis. IUAS will be working with universities, agriculture business, and farmers across the state of Indiana.
The aircraft will begin a six week flight testing program to prepare for its airworthiness certification by the Federal Aviation Administration. The company is based in high-tech facilities at the Innovation Connector, 1208 W. White River Blvd, Muncie, Indiana.
About Indiana Unmanned Aircraft Systems
Indiana Unmanned Aircraft Systems, a Muncie, Indiana based aerospace company, develops small unmanned aircraft that carry visual and near-infrared cameras used for precision agriculture image capture and analysis. Its core product, the Im VII, is an all-wing aircraft with a wingspan of just under seven feet integrated to near infrared and hyper spectral cameras. For information, visit www.indianauas.com.
About Innovation Connector
A partnership with Ball State University, the City of Muncie and Cardinal Health System, the Innovation Connector is the community business incubator for Muncie and Delaware County IN. It provides a dynamic process of business incubation development to help young technology-based companies survive and grow during the vulnerable start-up period. In addition to its newly constructed high-tech facility, business clients are offered affordable space, loads of amenities, and dynamic resources to help grow their businesses.
For information, visit www.innovationconnector.com
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