Manufacturer - Scion UAS LLC
Manufacturer - Scion UAS LLC
https://youtu.be/jqojf-h-NAw
SA400 Jackal
Published on May 1, 2014
https://youtu.be/n__GBgTu3p0
SA-400 Jackal Autonomous Takeoff and Landing on a Moving Trailer
Published on Aug 22, 2014
Quote:
Colorado-based Scion UAS Demonstrates Autonomous Takeoff and Landing from a Moving Platform
Fort Collins, CO – August 22, 2014
Scion UAS raised the bar on unmanned aerial system (UAS) capabilities by demonstrating autonomous takeoff and landing from a moving platform. Scion UAS is one of the first companies in the world to demonstrate autonomous landing of a manned-capable vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft on a moving platform.
The SA-400 Jackal landed smoothly on a 16ft x 20ft trailer being towed along a runway at speeds up to 10 knots. More than 10 landings and takeoffs were performed including straight-line approaches and 45-degree approaches to simulate ship-based operations. This is a significant milestone towards demonstrating the ship-based takeoff and landing capabilities of the optionally piloted helicopter.
“Scion landed on a smaller deck and accomplished the entire project at a fraction of the cost of competing systems”, said Colonel Sanford D. “Sandy” Mangold (USAF, Retired).
“Capabilities like this used to be limited to large defense contractors. We’re very proud of what our small team in Colorado has accomplished!” said Steen Mogensen, CEO of Scion UAS.
The safety pilot, Jim Sampson, was on board the aircraft during the flight tests for situational awareness and to ensure compliance with FAA regulations. The SA-400 is capable of flying fully unmanned or as an optionally piloted helicopter.
The SA-400 Jackal is a turbine powered VTOL aircraft designed to carry a 100-pound payload for more than four hours. The first two SA-400 Jackal systems are being delivered to the Naval Research Laboratories, where the vehicles will be used in the development and demonstration of emerging sensor systems.
Mr. Al Cross, Head of the Vehicle Research Section at NRL commented, “This is a major achievement which demonstrates that a small company can push the state-of-the-art in VTOL UAS development on an austere budget. I am very proud of what Scion UAS has accomplished today and look forward to accepting the SA-400 vehicles into the NRL research vehicle inventory.”
Founded in 2011, Scion UAS, LLC offers a product family of unmanned helicopter systems that range in size from car-transportable to optionally piloted. The VTOL UAS provides a simple-to-use aerial platform that is suitable for a wide variety of civilian and military applications including search and rescue, agriculture, aerial mapping, and aerial surveys.
https://youtu.be/b7SjOOuTct0
SA 400 Unmanned Capabilities Demo
Published on Oct 16, 2014
Quote:
In September 2014 Scion UAS performed a series of demonstration flights of the "SA-400 Jackal" unmanned autonomous helicopter system.
The demonstration, which was performed in restricted airspace, showed the SA-400 flying without a safety pilot in the cockpit and with a payload of 100 pounds installed on the side payload mounts.
The SA-400 is designed to operate from a ship underway at sea and a large custom trailer is used to demonstrate the helicopters ability to take off from, and land on, the moving ship.
Forward flight up to 70 mph was shown and as seen in the video, convoy following and sideways flight of ~35 mph / 30 Kts was also demonstrated.
A portable Ground Control Station (GCS), located in the truck, was used to upload flights plans to the aircraft and to allow the operator to keep an eye on the general health of the system. After the flight plan has been uploaded, the onboard autopilot controls all aspects of the flight. The operator is not flying the aircraft.
The vehicle shown in the video was delivered to the US Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) shortly after the demonstration. NRL will use the SA-400 for research. A second vehicle will be delivered to NRL soon.
Article "Dossier: Scion SA-400 Optionally Piloted Helicopter"
by Caroline Rees
March 30, 2015