Pteryx UAV, fixed wing drone, Trigger Composites , Grodzisko Dolne, Poland

[Airicist]

Manufacturer - Trigger Composites

Pteryx UAV on Wikipedia

Album "Pteryx UAV"

[Airicist]

Pteryx UAV photo mapping
October 25, 2010

After completing testing campaign and delivering the first units we have rushed to publish a short documentary.
Pteryx is an UAV designed for civilian use, together with its mission-oriented autopilot.
Our focus is in reliable operation and single button interface. Basically you have to put UAV on the rails, select missions with rotary knobs, hold takeoff button until the autopilot completes propulsion test, pull the bungee lock.
Pteryx can lift 800g compact digital SLR in roll-stabilised head, providing superior quality photography unachievable by other means: better flying precision than manned crafts, inaudible electric propulsion, very few parts to break (only 2 control surfaces, folding propeller).
Endurance up to 120min, parachute landing, protected propeller. Possible takeoff from hand and manual piloting.
By law, limited to visual range (some 1500m at 300m AGL) what yields 2km x 2km map after slightly more than one hour flight. Using pre-programmed missions you can fly several times per day in different location, fitting within strict law requirements while obtaining the most actual maps of superior resolution.
Besides the resolution, the maps have more contrast and color depth that other methods for aerial photography; this is partly because we are assembling photos after the flight allowing use to use the most evolved cameras with best optics for the job and because we have less air between us and the ground than classic airplane.

[Airicist]

Pteryx UAV assembly and short preflight checking
March 10, 2011

Demonstrating the most basic activities before each flight,
in order to give you an impression of real-life.
Observe we do not have to set up a groundstation nor to use a laptop: the choice of custom missions is pre-programmed by the used in the autopilot.
The user can also put his custom missions into free slots as alternative or completely replace standard settings.
There is also a default choice of missions that are relative to takeoff point. In fact, the success rate for photomapping missions is increased when you do not change any flight plans, instead you move from field to field and fly square missions over large area, with plenty of time to rejects unused data later.
Covering ground with airplane is cheap, effort spend on mission adjustment and simulation is a cost factor.

[Airicist]

Pteryx Pro UAV post-repair maiden flight for our client
September 27, 2011

Pteryx Pro UAV post-repair maiden flight for our client.
We have chosen landing in manual mode instead of parachute in order to protect the fuselage from any scratches, having plenty of space to land.
The movie shows descent from 285m AGL to 100m above takeoff position. At this point the decision is taken about moving the plane to safe parachuting spot in automatic mode using RC controller as turn commands, or to land as any other RC plane.