Dragon Eye, a Small Unit Reconnaissance Platform

摘要

The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), in conjunction with The Marine Corps WarfightingrnLaboratory (MCWL), is developing the Dragon Eye, a small unit reconnaissance small UAV. DragonrnEye is a backpackable, electric-powered aircraft weighing less than 6 pounds (2.72kg). This 45-inchrnspan (114cm) aircraft features twin, counter-rotating propellers and a GPS-based autopilot for fullyrnautonomous operation. Interchangeable nose sections allow for different imaging sensors to be carried –rnincluding color, lowlight, and IR imagers. The aircraft is designed for quick, no-tool assembly in thernfield. The Ground Control Station (GCS) consists of a rugged laptop computer with a smallrncommunications box. The GCS allows preflight programming of mission waypoints, features a moving-maprndisplay with NIMA map data, and allows in-flight mission retasking. NRL is currently completingrnthe development of Dragon Eye in concert with AeroVironment, BAI Aerosystems, and Lockheed-MartinrnAeronautics. The USMC plans to evaluate the first industry-built systems in June 2002, withrnproduction scheduled for FY03.