V-Bat UAV demos autonomous payload delivery
MLB has announced that it has concluded a DARPA funded research project that saw its vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) UAV, V-Bat, demonstrate precision autonomous payload delivery and placement.
According to the company, V-Bat was specially outfitted with a stereo vision system for the project, which enabled it to detect and track an object's position relative to its own position in hover flight. Newly developed control logic autonomously guided V-Bat's hover operations and controlled the specially designed six foot robotic arm to accurately pick-up and place the target object.
Stephen Morris, CEO and founder of MLB, said: ‘This is an excellent example of the flexibility and capabilities a vertical take-off and landing V-Bat can provide. The V-Bat is ideal for shipboard operations, aerial patrol, payload pick-up and delivery or any application that requires access to hard-to-reach or dangerous locations.’
The MLB V-Bat is a long endurance VTOL design under development at MLB. The aircraft is launched and recovered in a 20 x 20 ft area and can fly for up to 10 hours with a 5 lb payload. Versions as large as 10 ft in span and 70 lb and as small as 6 ft in span and 12 lb have been tested to date. The first production version will weigh 55 lb and have a 8 ft span.
More from Uncrewed Vehicles
-
Reamda upgrades Grasshopper UGV observation mast
Reamda, an Irish engineering company with a focus on UGVs and defence applications, delivered its Riddler platformed to the Irish Defence Forces last year.
-
Roke unveils new CUAS solution
The Roke Agile CUAS has been designed to provide protection for military and civilian situations, as well as to handle swarms of UAS by using a range of sensors.
-
Russia reaches new monthly record for Lancet use in Ukraine
The aggressor’s armed forces have adapted Lancet to Ukrainian conditions via iterative developments accompanied by a significant expansion in production capacity
-
India’s pursuit of UAVs fuels domestic innovation and industrial growth
In response to escalating border tensions and the need for enhanced surveillance capabilities, the Indian Army is ramping up its drone acquisitions, reflecting the growing importance of unmanned systems in modern defence strategies.
-
Australia to adopt new predatory OWL species
The Australian Defence Force will introduce the One-Way Loitering (OWL) platform by Innovaero, the country’s first long-range loitering munition, to enhance strike capabilities and understanding of loitering munitions.
-
Dedrone’s latest uncrewed solutions offers “complete CUAS DTI-M kill chain”
DedroneOnTheMove, which integrates advanced sensor-fusion and mitigation technologies, was showcased at Eurosatory 2024 and has been designed for deployment to enhance airspace security in high-risk environments.