Aeryon Scout

Scout
Role	Miniature UAV
Manufacturer	Aeryon Labs
Designer	Aeryon Labs
First flight	August 2007
Introduction	November 2009
Status	Full production

The Aeryon Scout is a remote-controlled miniature unmanned aerial vehicle (or MUAV) designed by Aeryon Labs, located in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The vehicle was developed from 2007 to 2009, with beta trials conducted late in 2009. The craft is a vertical take-off and landing VTOL quadrotor. It is powered by four brushless DC motors and has nearly silent operation. The vehicle can operate up to 3 kilometres (1.9 miles) from the user, with a designed operational altitude above ground level of 300 to 500 feet at flying speeds of up to 50 kilometres per hour (31 miles per hour).^[1] Unlike many other UAVs in this class, the Scout can tolerate winds of up to 80 kilometres per hour (50 mph).

Contents 1 Communications and control 2 Specifications 3 Payloads 4 Software features 5 Users 6 See also 7 References 8 External links

Communications and control

The Scout is unique in that it is controlled with a Tablet PC-based interface.^[2] It operates using custom or commercially available map data, in formats including MrSID. In addition, real-time maps can be used during flight. It can be flown real-time by the operator or pre-programmed to fly a series of GPS waypoints. The UAV can be ordered to return home using the "Return Home" button. In addition, the system intelligently handles faults such as low battery or loss of communication by performing a pre-selected routine such as:

• return home
• land immediately
• hover and wait

All communications with the vehicle are digital and encrypted. This prevents hijacking and video interception as happened with the US Predator in Iraq.^[3]

In addition to the tablet ground station, a STANAG 4586 compliant interface is available as well as STANAG 4609-compliant video. This allows control of the unit using a standard ground station, and integration with other vehicles. The video from the mission is both stored on-board the vehicle and transmitted down to the control station. The video format is standard MPEG-4 and images are geo-tagged JPEG.

Specifications

General characteristics

• Crew: none
• Length: 80 cm (28.8 in)
• Rotor diameter: 80 cm (28.8 in)
• Height: 30cm (1 ft)
• Loaded weight: 1.4 kg (3.1 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 1.7 kg (3.74 lb)
• Powerplant: 4 × Electric motor, Intelligent LiPo battery () each
• Propeller diameter: 30 cm (12 inch)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 50 km/h (31 mph)
• Cruise speed: 40 km/h
• Range: 3 km (2 mi)
• Service ceiling: 1,000ft/333 m AGL (15,000 ft/5,000 m ASL)
• Rate of climb: 2 m/s (6 ft/s)

Armament
High resolution, day/night cameras with optical and digital image stabilization and mechanical pan/tilt/zoom

Avionics
Custom

Payloads

The Scout has a quick-change payload interface with standard protocol interfaces including USB and Ethernet. This allows custom payloads to be developed easily. The system is able to detect the type of payload connected, and configure it and operate it appropriately. The payload capacity of the system is 250 grams. Offered payloads include:

• 2-axis/3-axis gimbaled 5 megapixel digital still/video camera
• 2-axis gimbaled FLIR night-vision camera
• 2-axis gimbal stabilized 10x Optical Zoom camera

The gimbaled camera allows the system to compensate for the movement of the vehicle, which is of particular issue with small UAV systems, due to wind gusts. The payload is controlled by the vehicle to remain geo-targeted.

Software features

• Version 4^[4]
  • ZoomSnap: allows the operator to take a high-resolution photograph of a specific point of interest in the video and have it instantly streamed to the operator. The photograph provides the equivalent of between 5 and 10 times the level of detail in a typical video stream. The image is geotagged, stored on-board the Scout and available on the Ground Control Station (GCS) tablet instantly for on-the-ground analysis.
  • LiveMaps: build maps in real-time, replacing out-of-date information and flying more easily in unmapped areas
  • FollowMe: allows the Scout to automatically follow vehicles and troops, giving a continual visual overview of the surrounding terrain This automatic operation, enabling the Scout to follow the base station without operator interaction. The Scout can either hover directly above the base station or fly at a fixed offset. This feature is targeted at counter-IED missions and convoy support, where the Scout can keep a constant and automatic watch.

• Version 5^[5]
  • AutoGrid: automatically creates a gridded waypoint path based on a number of user defined variables such as altitude, desired overlap of imagery, etc. AutoGrid™ ensures images provide the desired amount of coverage, which is essential for GIS Mapping or Search & Rescue operations.
  • Dynamic FollowMe: allows control of the Scout while in FollowMe mode. This is used when taking off or landing on a moving platform. This feature was demonstrated in the US DoD 2011 Empire Challenge where the Scout was launched off a moving US Marines river boat.^[6]
  • Dynamic Flightplans: Flight plans can now be dynamically created and adjusted while the Scout is in the air. The Flight-plan Editor displays waypoints in decimal degrees, decimal minutes, degrees-minutes-seconds of latitude and longitude as well as UTM and MGRS.

Users

Users include: