-
Built for the Mission: UAV Component Requirements in cUAS
Counter-UAS (cUAS) is increasingly becoming an exercise in economics as much as technology. When the threat consists of relatively inexpensive drones, the effectiveness of a countermeasure is not limited to whether it can defeat the target. The cost, availability, reliability, and scalability of the countermeasure also become important considerations. This is particularly relevant for…
-
Built for the Mission: UAV Component Requirements For ISR
An intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle (ISR UAV) can spend hours in the air without attracting attention, carrying sensors whose value depends on remaining stable, precise, and operational long after launch. A small vibration can affect an optical image, thermal variation can alter sensor performance, a communications fault can interrupt the flow…
-
6 Things to Know Before Sourcing Autopilots
Some sourcing choices have an impact that extend beyond the system component they oversee. They become an important cog on which the entire system hinges on. Autopilot is one such sourcing decision. The right autopilot shapes how aircraft performs, how safely it can be certified and how much time and money are spent getting…
