Hood Technology is equipping the Flexrotor, the unusual long-range VTOL aircraft from Aerovel, with a HoodTech stabilized imaging system.
HoodTech President, Andy von Flotow, notes, “Flexrotor brings a quantum jump in capability to the small-UAS sector, with its unique mix of VTOL, long-endurance, small size, and fully-automated operation both in flight and on the ground. Adding our best-in-class imaging should make for a remarkably powerful combination.”
The Alticam system, mounted in a nose bay forward of the aircraft’s rotor/propeller, combines a lightweight stabilized turret and onboard image processor. The system compensates for airframe motion, delivers video of exceptional acuity, and tracks targets automatically so that “hands-off” surveillance can be routinely maintained for extended periods. Performance of these stabilized imaging systems has been well-proven in recent years, with many hundreds of thousands of flight-hours accumulated in operations at sea and over land.
Hood Technology Vision, Inc. designs and manufactures imaging and video processing systems for aircraft, boats, land vehicles, and stationary mounts. Aerovel Corporation is developing the Flexrotor unmanned aircraft for introduction to service in 2013-2014, with emphasis on economy in civil applications such as offshore reconnaissance and geological survey. Both firms are based in the Columbia River Gorge in the American northwest.
Source: Press Release