Uncrewed paragliding aircraft designed to help soldiers carry out stealth missions are being developed in the US.
Atair Aerospace, based in New York, is working on the aircraft, which include miniature uncrewed craft and a two-person paragliding buggy.
A paraglider has a rectangular or elliptical canopy that is open at the front and closed at the back and generates lift as it travels through the air. A pilot can fly without power, by riding rising air currents, or thermals, and can control their aircraft鈥檚 speed and direction by pulling on lines attached to either end of the canopy.
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Atair Aerospace has created several simple remote-controlled paragliders that include steering mechanism, GPS receiver and a radio link. These could carry supplies or bombs to precise coordinates on a parachute drop, the company says.
Propeller power
The company is also developing powered uncrewed paragliders. These have an engine and propeller fitted to the payload bay hanging below the canopy. The company claims they are more compact, simpler to operate and quieter than existing drone aircraft. DARPA is funding the development of an uncrewed reconnaissance craft called the Long Endurance Autonomous Powered Parafoil (LEAPP).
LEAPP could be either airdropped or ground launched and would fly for over 48 hours carrying a 100 kilogram payload, including video surveillance equipment. It could also operate autonomously or under remote control. A video of a small prototype, called micro-LEAPP, shows it (8.5MB .mov). The larger LEAPP is scheduled to make its first test flight in September 2006.
鈥淭he fabric wing is innately stealthy,鈥� says Atair Aerospace CEO Dan Preston. He claims that, as the wing is transparent to radio waves, a communications antenna can easily be incorporated into it.
Virtually undetectable
Ken Munson, editor of Jane鈥檚 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Targets, a defence industry publication, says the design has potential. 鈥淭he speed is slow, but that鈥檚 not a problem when you don鈥檛 have to go any great distances,鈥� he told 快猫短视频. 鈥淔or reconnaissance, it would be vulnerable at low altitude, but it could stay at higher altitudes where it would be virtually undetectable.鈥�
Atair is also working on a two-person paragliding buggy called Chimera, which has a propeller at the back and powered wheels. It could be parachuted from an aircraft and travel around on the ground, becoming airborne when necessary by redeploying its canopy. It will travel at about 46.3 kilometres per hour and consume 7.5 litres of fuel per hour, the company says.
鈥淭he parafoil looks viable enough,鈥� Munson says. 鈥淗owever, I鈥檇 be interested to see how well it would deal with crosswinds.鈥�
