Designed For Multiple Missions, Autonomous Operations 

Aircraft manufacturer DPI has introduced the DP-14 Hawk, which the company says is designed for multiple missions and autonomous operations.

According to the company website, the aircraft, which resembles a miniaturized CH-47, is an autonomous UAV designed for precision aerial resupply. With an advanced tandem design, the Hawk is fast, agile, and powerful. It can carry up to 430 lbs useful payload over long distances, operate in crosswinds up to 40 kts, and fly at 105 kts (recommended cruise speed 72 kts).

The DP-14 Hawk uses onboard LIDAR and advanced algorithms to self-navigate in complex, restricted environments. This includes advanced intelligence for path planning, course corrections, perception, obstacle avoidance, and landing-site selection. These cutting-edge capabilities allow the Hawk to fly intelligent autonomous, NLOS, nap-of-earth missions and dynamically adapt to changes in flight conditions and terrain.

In May 2014, NASA initiated research to study the DPI tandem helicopter, DP-14 Field Hawk, to baseline airworthiness requirements for a category of UAVs weighing more than 55 lbs. The requirements developed will be for a very specific use: operation under an FAA restricted type certificate for precision agriculture. NASA chose precision agriculture since the operation can be well defined. Also, an FAA certification process already exists for manned aircraft performing the same type of operation.

The company says the Hawk ideal for operations such as precision agriculture, farming, wildfire life & safety, search and rescue, survey and expedition resupply, marine operations, and other applications where precision flight, precision cargo drops, and a small profile are key capabilities.

It takes only one person to operate the Hawk. Also, one person can operate multiple Hawks for simultaneous resupply missions. Small and easy to maneuver, it fits in the back of a standard Sprinter Van or utility trailer.

A tandem UAV, the DP-14 Hawk has a stable hover and can operate in gusting winds to 40 knots. The Hawk also has 1 ms autopilot cycling and rapid pitch correction during autonomous cargo offloading. These capabilities allow for precision cargo drops with accuracy better than 3 meters, in real-world flight conditions.

The military is reportedly looking at the aircraft as a potential unmanned medevac aircraft as well.

(Images courtesy DPI)

FMI: www.dragonflypictures.com/products/unmanned-vehicles/dp-14-hawk