AeroVironment Unveils Modular Gimbaled Sensor Payload on RQ-11B Raven sUAS

Army Aviation Association of America – AeroVironment, Inc. AVAV -0.30% today unveiled a new miniature gimbaled sensor payload on the battle-proven RQ-11B Raven small unmanned aircraft system at the Army Aviation Association of America Annual Professional Forum and Exposition. The modular payload includes a high-resolution color and an infrared thermal video sensor, as well as a laser illuminator integrated into a multi-axis sphere capable of continuous pan. The new payload will become a standard component of future Raven systems and will be sold as an upgrade for previously fielded units. Upgrading existing digital Raven systems to accommodate the new payload requires only a software update to each air vehicle and ground control station. The new payload is one of four products offered in AeroVironment’s “Mantis” suite of gimbaled sensor payloads now available for commercial applications including unmanned aircraft systems, manned aircraft, ground vehicles and watercraft. A gimbaled sensor payload enhances the Raven system’s capabilities by allowing a higher level of visual fidelity and continuous observation of an item of interest regardless of the air vehicle’s flight direction. The new payload also replaces two separate Raven system payloads previously required for day and night operation, one containing a stationary electro-optical sensor, the other a […]
AeroVironment Unveils Modular Gimbaled Sensor Payload on RQ-11B Raven sUAS