Nano-droner til den amerikanske hær

Amerikanske forsvarsledere vill have bygget nano droner, som vejer mindre end 500 gram for selve dronen, og mindre end 1,5 kg for hele det ubemandede system, ifølge en forespørgel, som netop er offentliggjort på FBO.gov.

Den amerikanske hær kalder sine drone initiativer for Soldier Borne Sensors (SBS) med Product Manager Soldier Maneuver Sensors (PM SMS). Formålet er at udstyre hærens tropper med højteknologiske nanodroner, som kan understøtte dem i deres operative virke. Det er højt prioriteret af den amerikanske hær, at deres tropper sende nanodroner ind i bl.a. bygninger for at cleare værelser, og dermed beskytte troppernes liv. Den teknologiske udvikling for nanodroner er nu ved st være på et stadie, der tillader at et sådan projekt kan realiseres ift. Den amerikanske hærs behov.

Det britiske forsvar har allerede taget nanodroner i brug. Billedet ovenfor er nanodronen Black Hornet, der er udviklet af Prox Dynamics, og som briterne bl.a. har anvendt ved deres engagement i Afghanistan. Nanodronen Black Hornet måler blot 10cm og vejer kun 16 gram. Den har 3 kameraer og kan flyve op til 17km/t.

Amerikanske forsvarsledere har sammensat en liste over ønskede funktioner, som den kommende nanodrone skal have. Det er ikke kravsspecifikation, men nærmere en ønskeliste, der er med til at illustrere forventningerne fra den amerikanske hærs side. Se listen her (på engelsk):

U.S. Army’s ønskede funktioner til deres kommende nano-droner:

• The system will be complete and stand-alone containing all necessary hardware, software, radio equipment, batteries and a tactical carrying pouch and is to be flown by a single operator.
• The system will display incoming video and telemetry data in near real time to the operator.
• System sensors will support day and night imaging.
• Full system weight (air element, ground element and display): 3.0 lbs.
• Air vehicle: 150 grams.
• The system must be operable in light precipitation.
• The system will have the ability to return to a predetermined location for loss-of-radio link.
• Must operate in a Federally (DoD) Allocated Radio Frequency – Examples (vendors are not limited to these examples): CONUS 355-380MHz or 1780-1850 MHz or 2025-2110 MHz, OCONUS 1625-1725MHz.
• The display will be visible in day or night and backlit with brightness and contrast controls.
• The system will accept a standard interoperable charging configuration with Military Standard and widely commercially available chargers.
• Air vehicle must operate in manual mode and operate in waypoint navigation mode.
• Air vehicle’s operating radius: Line of Sight: 500m
• Air vehicle’s mission endurance: 15 mins
• Air vehicle shall have, at range of 100 meters day (50 meters night), sufficient resolution for a trained operator to detect a man-sized target with a 90% probability.
• Air vehicle shall have, at range of 20 meters during the day, sufficient resolution for a trained operator to recognize a man-sized target and determine if armed with a rifle or not with a 90% probability.
• Air vehicle will have the ability to be hand launched and recovered, without exposing the operator, while in the prone position and while from cover & concealment, a hide site, confined area and alleyway type locations.
• Air vehicle’s launch time from stored to operational is less than 60 seconds.
• Air vehicle must be operable in constant winds up to 10 knots and gusts to 15 knots.