Tiny 'Tilt-Rotor' Aircraft Can Carry 22 Pounds, Fly 92 Knots

Sony has released a YouTube video of its new Aerosense UAV it has developed in a joint venture with the Japanese robotics company ZMP.

The aircraft was announced by the two companies on July 23. In a news release announcing the joint venture, Sony and ZMP said that Sony’s camera, sensing, telecommunications network, and robotics technologies will be leveraged alongside ZMP’s automated driving and robotics technologies together with their business experience in industrial fields. Aerosense Inc. will combine these assets and develop comprehensive solutions that meet needs including measuring, surveying, observing, and inspecting.

Aerosense says it plans to roll out these services for enterprise customers beginning in 2016.

The aircraft takes off and lands vertically, like a quadcopter. But it also has wings and stabilizers to allow it to fly like an airplane. It is capable of reaching speeds of 92 knots and carrying up to 22 pounds with an endurance of up to two hours, according to the company.

(Images from YouTube video)

FMI: Video https://youtu.be/btT3_SR7rE0