Looking for civilian apps. Anybody here know anything?

Frank X. Morris, you here tonight? Don't you work in some aspect of this stuff? Got any pointers?

B

Personally I think Global Hawk has more civilian applications than military. In the civilian world it can be on the spot for forest fires, shipping issues, wetland research, mapping, ect ect ect. at a fractional cost of conventional means.

Remember the mapping question I asked you about? My dad was sailing in the South Pacific last month with 1800's era charts Global Hawk could find many of those islands that are still not on modern nautical charts.

Though my question was generic, my particular interest is in post-hurricane impact assessment. Recently FAA has relaxed restrictions somewhat and so I am interested in what types of sensors are available for civilian use. I'm thinking that UAV's, especially high and slow-fliers that can remain aloft for several days may offer serious alternatives to traditional sources. I understand that NOAA has purchased about 30-40 of the birds; mostly to acquire physical data at a higher spatial and temporal resolution than hurricane hunter aircraft are capable of providing. This brings us full-circle to your dad's interest, since NOAA provides navigational charts for both civilian and military use.

My interest is in both operating parameters of the platform and also civilian sensor packages. I don't need a Hellfire missile, for example. Not that I would turn it down if I could pop that pickle loose on some inanimate object!

B

Howdy Bot,
www.uav.com Almost all our contracts are military. We work with NASA. We have contacted fire agencies. We were down in NO. We are doing homeland security down on the Arizona border. And a number of other things.

__________________
Frank X. Morris
17 Kia Niro
08 Jeep Wrangler 4 door unlimited

one of my colleagues is organizing a workshop for civilian uses of UAV's. So far interested potential commercial users have been oil companies (mostly survey), pipeline companies, and civil engineering companies. Gov institutions include everything from various coastal entities through several different state's agencies and the usual fed suspects.

PM me for info or if you think your company might be interested in sending representation.

B

PS Thanks for the link. I'm going to attend the meeting to learn what's out there and I always appreciate background info before I go to these things.

Howdy Bot,
I'm far away from the "powers" of the company. They would probably like to hear about the seminar. Whoever is putting on the talk should contact ASI headquarters at Rancho Bernardo. Keep me informed.

__________________
Frank X. Morris
17 Kia Niro
08 Jeep Wrangler 4 door unlimited

Kimberly Kasitz
Public Relations Manager
+1.858.455.2294
kimberly.kasitz@uav.com

Tell her Medmech sent you bot.

They've become a fixture in the skies over Iraq and Afghanistan, a new breed of unmanned aircraft operated with remote controls by "pilots" sitting in virtual cockpits many miles away.

But the Air Force's Global Hawk has never flown a mission over the United States.

That is set to change Monday, when the first Global Hawk is scheduled to land at Beale Air Force Base in northern California.

"This landmark flight has historic implications since it's the first time a Global Hawk has not only flown from Beale, but anywhere in the United States on an official Air Combat Command mission," base spokesman Capt. Michael Andrews said in a statement.

Beale-based pilots are flying the drones daily on combat missions in the Middle East, Andrews said. The planes are operated by four-person crews from virtual cockpits the size of shipping containers.

The planes are designed to fly at high altitudes for 40 hour-missions covering as much as 10,000 miles, mostly providing aerial surveillance. The aircraft, which can cost more than $80 million each, can reach an altitude of 65,000 feet and send back high-resolution imagery.

The Hawks are among a growing fleet of unmanned aircraft that also includes the missile-carrying Predators and five-pound Ravens that are small enough to be carried in soldiers' backpacks.

Beale is to have seven Global Hawks by 2009. It is currently the only U.S. base with the drones. Eventually the Air Force's fleet will include 54 of the Global Hawks, but most will be based overseas.

Howdy All,
I saw the article in my local paper. Almost fell out of the chair laughing. Thinking about how far behind the times Global Hawk is. Predator is flying over Arizona on Homeland Security and we have been at Indian Springs AFB (Now Creech) for years. Recently we pulled in a billion dollar contract with the Army.

__________________
Frank X. Morris
17 Kia Niro
08 Jeep Wrangler 4 door unlimited

I saw a NASA experimental robot aircraft that flies about as high as a U2, IIRC. Don't recall it's name, but the host on the TV show said that the technology might compete with some aspects of satellite tech.

B

Howdy Bot,
Sounds like Pathfinder by AeroVironment. A name you might know is the owner. Paul McCreedy (sp?¿)

__________________
Frank X. Morris
17 Kia Niro
08 Jeep Wrangler 4 door unlimited