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Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) performs MIRICLESQinetiQ’s Zephyr High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) solar powered Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) has achieved its longest flight to date during a set of flight trials at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. The surveillance aircraft is manned with numerous sensors and Qinetiq selected Thermoteknix’ MIRICLE® 110K high performance miniature infrared camera to collect thermal imagery. The MIRICLE® 110K video output now offers 384 x 288 resolution in NTSC and RS170 formats as well as in PAL and CCIR. This gives 44% more pixels when compared to 320 x 240 pixel cameras resulting in a wider field of view for the same focal length lens, or a smaller focal length lens to match the FOV. This leads to smaller and lighter optics and improved FOV to weight ratio, ideal for portable and UAV applications. MIRICLE® is also available as a 640 x 480 unit and both models ship either as OEM cores/engines or as fully built sealed cameras with a choice of optics. A choice of digital and analog outputs complete the package to meet application needs. Zephyr is an ultra-lightweight electrically powered aircraft, with a wingspan of up to 16 metres but weighing less than 30 kg. The aircraft uses a combination of solar array and rechargeable batteries and, when fully developed, is expected to operate for months at a time at an altitude above 50,000 feet providing a sustained and persistent earth observation platform. Zephyr flew with MIRICLE® on board at an altitude over 50,000 feet for 18 hours, including 7 hours in the dark. Qinetiq’s Zephyr High Altitude Long Endurance
(HALE) Solar Powered UAV (right) embarks on its record
18 hour flight at an altitude above 50,000 feet over
White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, 7 hours
of which were flown in the dark. Zephyr is equipped
with a
Home 22nd January 2008 12:59 GMT |
