Tiny Aircraft Has Extended Remote Landing Range, Reporting Capability To Detect Occupancy In A Compound

The Phoenix50-H, a quad coaxial mini-copter system capable of performing multiple functions such as detecting movement or breathing of a hiding person in a compound from a sloped roof was introduced Thursday by TiaLinx. The company develops remotely controlled mini-unmanned aerial and ground vehicles which can be integrated with ultra-wideband miniaturized radars. The company says the mini-copter can be remotely controlled at extended standoff distances of hundreds of feet from ground or an airborne assets to keep the operators out of harm's way.

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The lightweight and agile mini-copter can be programmed to fly to or land at multiple waypoints. It has been integrated with TiaLinx's fine beam ultra-wideband (UWB), multi-Gigahertz radio frequency (RF) sensor array. An onboard microphone and video camera augment the sensor capability of Phoenix50-H. TiaLinx's advanced real-time and lightweight UWB RF imaging system was an essential step in the development of Phoenix50-H to operate at high elevations for prolonged missions. The transmitted power of the UWB signal is less than a typical cellular phone.

Through a software-controlled interface which is integrated into a laptop or joystick controller unit, Phoenix50-H can be remotely guided from extended distances to perform mission-critical tasks. Innovations in mechanical design of the system allow for smooth landing and take-off from sloped roofs. This advanced feature allows for monitoring a premise under surveillance for enhanced situational awareness or rescue operations of hard-to-access buildings.

The ultra-lightweight RF Scanner is mounted on a lightweight mini-copter and transmits wideband signals that are highly directional and can penetrate roofs at an extended range. In the receiver, a signal detector circuit is employed to capture the reflections from targets. Amplitude and delay information are then processed in an integrated signal processor.

System evaluations indicate that a remotely controlled system at an extended range from an operator point of view is essential for safety and completion of a critical mission. The introduction of the Phoenix50-H's is intended to provide advanced miniaturized life detection sensors in compounds and to keep the operators at least a few hundred feet away.

FMI: www.TiaLinx.com