Urban Aeronautics has announced that its Cormorant UAS prototype has successfully performed its first autonomous pattern flight over uneven terrain, the company announced on 14 November.
Cormorant is being developed to operate close to the ground and inside obstructed terrain by using an autopilot technology that relies primarily on inertial and ground reference. This is more complex than autopilot systems for traditional fixed and rotor-wing UAS that fly through open, unobstructed airspace.
According to the company’s founder, Rafi Yoeli, this flight ‘paves the way forward for the immediate evolution of Cormorant from prototype to near-term production’ for a number of applications and markets.
The next phase of development will include flight tests to improve the smoothness of transitions through the various flight modes - take-off, climb, acceleration, cruise, deceleration, descent, turns, hover and touchdown - in addition to increasing speed and manoeuvrability.
Yoeli said: ‘This is the most exciting time in the company’s history and we look forward to accelerating our progress now that the technology is fully proven.’
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Advancements in air defence technologies have begun to reshape aerial combat dynamics in the Middle East, as illustrated by recent events involving the Israeli Air Force and Hezbollah.
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