Drones

Snipe Nano Quadrotor could reshape the battlefield

Snipe Nano Quadrotor could reshape the battlefield
Fight time is around 15 minutes, with a top speed of 22 mph and a range of 1 kilometer
Fight time is around 15 minutes, with a top speed of 22 mph and a range of 1 kilometer
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The Snipe Nano Quad UAS weighs just 140 grams
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The Snipe Nano Quad UAS weighs just 140 grams
Announced at AUVSI in Dallas today, the Snipe Nano Quad UAS weighs just 140 grams
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Announced at AUVSI in Dallas today, the Snipe Nano Quad UAS weighs just 140 grams
Fight time is around 15 minutes per battery (there are two in the kit), but with a top speed of 22 mph and a range of 1 kilometer
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Fight time is around 15 minutes per battery (there are two in the kit), but with a top speed of 22 mph and a range of 1 kilometer
Snipe is flown by a standard, ruggedized (MIL-STD 810) touch screen controller and if it loses its radio link, it returns to its operator automatically
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Snipe is flown by a standard, ruggedized (MIL-STD 810) touch screen controller and if it loses its radio link, it returns to its operator automatically
AeroVironment designed the Snipe for "close-range intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions"
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AeroVironment designed the Snipe for "close-range intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions"
The drone is flown by a standard, ruggedized touch screen controller
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The drone is flown by a standard, ruggedized touch screen controller
The Snipe has integrated UHF radio for non-line-of-sight operation
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The Snipe has integrated UHF radio for non-line-of-sight operation
Fight time is around 15 minutes, with a top speed of 22 mph and a range of 1 kilometer
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Fight time is around 15 minutes, with a top speed of 22 mph and a range of 1 kilometer
AeroVironment says the tiny quadcopter is stable in strong winds
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AeroVironment says the tiny quadcopter is stable in strong winds
Once in the air, the Snipe can record or relay real-time hi-res video to the soldier's control unit
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Once in the air, the Snipe can record or relay real-time hi-res video to the soldier's control unit
Once in the air, the Snipe can record or relay real-time hi-res video to the soldier's control unit
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Once in the air, the Snipe can record or relay real-time hi-res video to the soldier's control unit
Snipe can relay high-resolution images and record real-time video both day and night
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Snipe can relay high-resolution images and record real-time video both day and night
Snipe is designed to be deployed in less than a minute
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Snipe is designed to be deployed in less than a minute
View gallery - 13 images

AeroVironment's new Snipe Nano Quadrotor is a man-packable drone with the potential to be carried by every foot soldier, vastly increasing situational awareness and individual capability. The Snipe will also be available commercially later this year for police, first responders and all those who need to be able to see what's happening in places they cannot safely go.

Announced at AUVSI in Dallas today, the Snipe Nano Quad UAS weighs just 140 grams (5 oz) and fits into a small hard case light enough to be carried – though AeroVironment has not yet disclosed the weight of the entire UAS including the ruggedized touch screen controller.

AeroVironment designed the Snipe for "close-range intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions" and most importantly for those who might use it in theatre, it can be in the air within 60 seconds.

Once in the air, the Snipe can record or relay real-time hi-res video to the soldier's control unit around the clock via its low-light electro/optical and infrared cameras, which are positioned in a built-in tilting mechanism.

Snipe can relay high-resolution images and record real-time video both day and night
Snipe can relay high-resolution images and record real-time video both day and night

Fight time is around 15 minutes per battery (there are two in the kit), with a top speed of 22 mph and a range of 1 kilometer.

The Snipe has integrated UHF radio for non-line-of-sight operation and the software-defined radio (SDR) means that Snipe can be sold commercially, beyond being just a defense supplier. Non-commercial orders will be accepted by the company from Q3, 2017 and the first military order was fulfilled last month.

AeroVironment says the tiny quadcopter is stable in strong winds
AeroVironment says the tiny quadcopter is stable in strong winds

AeroVironment says the tiny quadcopter is both stable in strong winds (15 mph with gusts up to 20 mph) and very quiet, meaning that it can be deployed to hover and stare from relatively close range with great stealth. It is flown by a standard, ruggedized (MIL-STD 810) touch screen controller and if it loses its radio link, it returns to its operator automatically.

The Snipe is apparently a distant relative of Aerovironment's wing-flapping Nano Hummingbird, with at least some of the technology used being derived from the wing-flapping mini UAV.

On top of everything else, AeroVironment claims the Snipe is so easy to fly that operator training takes just four hours.

The AeroVironment video below takes a detailed look at the Snipe.

Source: AeroVironment

View gallery - 13 images
5 comments
5 comments
Bob
Looks like a good idea but I don't think every member of the squad needs one. When I was in the Army 50 years ago we carried way too much unnecessary equipment. Today, they wear body armor and electronics in addition to all the equipment. While these quadcopters are small, they are more bulk and weight. I could foresee larger long range drones accompanying the squad and watching from overhead for better surveillance while only needing a couple small ones to scout ahead in tighter spaces. More equipment means less agility and a bigger target for the enemy. It doesn't seem like we get the utility we should out of all our technology.
JimFox
great life-saver; nice to see a 'here it is, in operation' rather than 'any day now'...
Bruce H. Anderson
I like the small form factor. The video shows night vision, but this is probably not a true thermal camera. But it may be close enough. The controller is kind of a biggie. They need to work on that.
christopher
Like we need more ways to kill each other. Pity the techheads who make this crap don't think about the consequences of what they're doing...
Michael Flower
Make a Good "Kamikaze" Drone to!/? Just replace "Everything" made of Regular Plastics with a "Plastic Explosive Composite"...