City streets pose problems for unmanned aircraft.

• Jurisdiction: United States
• Date: 01 March 2006
• Author: Magnuson, Stew
• Published date: 01 March 2006
• Author: Magnuson, Stew

THE DREAM IS A fully autonomous rotary-wing unmanned aerial vehicle--one capable of flying through urban canyons, hovering above city streets or perching on building ledges as it gathers intelligence.

Researchers at the Georgia Tech's Center of Excellence in Rotorcraft Technology took one step toward that dream in August 2004 when they flew the GTMAX drone in two Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency demonstration missions at the Fort Benning military operations urban training site in Georgia.

The 160-pound aircraft with a 10-foot rotary diameter flew itself to pre-set coordinates and delivered medical supplies to a soldier within five seconds of its scheduled drop time. It later showed the ability to detect and avoid gunfire from a mock insurgent's gun.

While the demonstrations were a success, there "is a long way to go" before the goal of full autonomy is achieved, said the center's director, Daniel Schrage. It will take at least another five to 10 years of software development before rotary-wing UAVs can swoop among tall buildings searching for insurgents...