Skynet
Overview
Skynet is a UAV system designed for the rural law enforcement market. Skynet provides functionality similar to police helicopters found in urban areas, but at a small fraction of the cost. The system provides highly autonomous long-endurance operation with minimal operator training. Applications include patrol, area search, and high-speed vehicle chase.
System Highlights
- Very low operating cost
- Operate multiple aircraft from a single control station
- Easily hand off control among multiple control stations
- Share payload imagery with multiple ground displays
- Use any networked PC as a control station, with no additional software
- Internet-based communication
- Cellular data connection between aircraft and the internet
Vehicle Capabilities
- Car-top launch from moving car
- Recover to any open field
- 120 mph dash speed
- 8-hour endurance for typical mission profile
Operator Interface Demo
The map-based control interface runs in a web-browser window, and uses intuitive concepts familiar to any PC user. An online simulation/demo is avaiable here.
Proof-of-Concept Testbed
On March 5, 2007 Tigner Research conducted a successful flight demonstration of Skynet's control and communication architecture.
The aircraft used in this demonstration differed substantially from Skynet's final design but used several of the final aircraft's subsystems,
including flight control computer and INS/GPS, powerplant, servos, actuators, and much of its software.
The aircraft was fully autonomous from takeoff to landing and was directed from a ground-based PC which communicated with the aircraft exclusively
through the internet and commercial cell-phone system.
