The DARPA uavforge competition is approaching the deadline for Milestone 2, with voting for the ‘Proof of Flight’ videos due to end on January 22 nd.
Of the six videos posted so far, the video above of Q-4 range of Nano UAS, developed jointly between Middlesex University and BCB International Ltd in the UK, is only one demonstrates that it can fulfil all of the criteria of the competition’s ‘Mission Scenario’:
You are a member of a team and your mission is to outfit a fictional Task Force with an unmanned remotely operated micro air vehicle system. The entire air vehicle system must fit within a rucksack and a single person traveling by foot must be able to carry and operate the vehicle without assistance.
The job of the Task Force is to conduct observations of suspicious activities occurring within the vicinity of two nondescript buildings in an urban area. Due to security in the region, all operations must be conducted beyond line of sight so as not to compromise your presence. If the UAV system is detected the mission will be jeopardized.
The total observation time may require up to three hours of pictures and/or video to document the facts. Once key observations have been made, the team must quickly retreat to their designated rendezvous location. It is possible the vehicle will be handed off to another member of the Task Force to ensure mission success.
[However, as some of the comments point out, it isn’t very original… a comment that could be applied equally to most of the other competitors. -Ed.]
Source: uavforge