The cover page shows the aerial photography acquired over southwestern Idaho using a MLB Bat 3 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) equipped with a Canon SD 900 10-megapixel digital camera. Researchers from the USDA Agricultural Research Service Jornada Experimental Range and New Mexico State University acquired the imagery as part of a larger research project aimed at determining the utility of UAVs for remote sensing of rangelands.
The UAV flew at an average altitude of 210 m above ground, acquiring images with a ground resolved distance of approximately 8 cm. The images were processed with a custom algorithm to obtain improved exterior orientation values, and were subsequently orthorectified and mosaicked into the three mosaics shown. Ground-based vegetation measurements were compared with results from object-based image analysis, and the classification procedures were then applied to the larger mosaics. On the upper right inset, a 50 m x 50 m plot is shown in detail, with the classification results below. The lower inset shows details of the imagery. The upper left inset shows the UAV on landing approach. Detailed methods and results can be found in the article “Acquisition, Orthorectification, and Object-Based Classification of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Imagery for Rangeland Monitoring” in this issue.
MLB is proud to have one of the first small UAVs to be fully integrated with the Goodrich-Cloud Cap SWIR gimbal and 3AX retraction mechanism.
The SWIR camera features high sensitivity and high resolution that cuts through fog or haze and is free of interference from night radiance. The high resolution makes the SWIR camera ideal to operate both during in the day to see through smoke or provide high-quality “clear-as-day” night vision (see sample videos here ). It is also able to see covert lasers and beacons.
The SWIR gimbal option features the Goodrich SWIR camera payload mounted on Cloud Cap Technologies TASE DUO stabilized gimbal. The gimbal is stowed within the airframe during take-off and landing for maximum protection by the 3AX retraction mechanism.
This system if fully integrated in to the Bat 3CC enabling long endurance ( 5+ hours), high-quality, day/night surveillance capability.
The E-Swift is featured on the CAFE (Comparative Aircraft Flight Effciency) Fundation blog and the MachNoneFlying.com, an online news paper of subsonic affordable flight. As mentioned in the article MLB president Dr. Morris will present his paper on these early experiments at the CAFE Foundation’s Fourth Annual Electric Aircraft Symposium.
The Bat 3 is featured on Jaunary 2010 issue cover of the Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Society newsletter, Sensed. The Bat 3 UAV by MLB company was used as an example in the discussion of usage unmanned aerial vehicles for remote sensing research, following a technical session at RSPSoc 2009 in Leicester, UK.
The MLB Company has developed its first man-carrying electric aircraft, the E-Swift which completed successful test flights in December 2009. The E-Swift is an FAR Part 103 ultralight aircraft based on the Swift high-performance composite hang glider. The E-Swift is powered by a single electric motor and lithium polymer battery system which attach to the glider as a modular unit.
The total flight time was 20 minutes and the aircraft achieved a maximum sustained speed of 60 mph without the pilot fairing. Additional flight testing is planned to measure the full performance envelope. The flight data matched predicted performance models well.
Flight test video:
The MLB Bat 3 CC UAV system equipped with Cloud Cap Technologies Piccolo II auto-pilot and TASE/TASE DUO gimbal can now achieve 5-6 hour endurance nominally. The fully tested airframe has a longer wing span at 8.4 ft (2.56 m) and a larger fuel tank. The tail is also modified with a longer and stiffer tail boom and a larger tail area to improve stability and manual handling quality.
The upgraded Bat 3 CC now weights 31 lbs fully fueled. As parallel development, MLB has developed a stronger bungee catapult system that launches the aircraft with authority. The new catapult is still rack mounted and can be stowed on top of most cars an SUV with roof racks. Please see the products section for more details and pricing. The aircraft shown in the photos is one of two Bat 3 CCs produced for Eglin Air Force base equipped with a secondary link and night navigation light options.
