June 2010:
New sensor board ready for delivery: A new version of our SB20 sensor board (part of the FCS20 Flight Control System) is now available for delivery. The new board (revision A4) is a complete redesign of the previous A3 board and offers the following new features and advantages:
Dedicated header for RC receiver makes it easy to temporarily connect an RC receiver for testing (8 input pins + power and ground).
Dedicated 5V output pins (8). 5V Buffer/Driver can be configured as input or output and may be enabled by FPGA allowing servos to be turned on through software.
Additional 5V compatible IO-pins (16)
Improved power supply design for increased efficiency and improved analog sensor performance.
New, digital inertial sensors from Analog Devices
Keep-alive power for GPS
Micro-SD card for additional storage capacity
10/100Mb Ethernet standard
Main and Aux power input
18 June 2010:
Hornet Mini is demonstrated from a Coast Guard ship "KV Tor" in Stavanger, Norway. Representatives from the Coastal Adminstration (Kystverket), police and customs were present during the demonstration, which included a series of mission scenarios including tracking of small high-speed boats dropping off and retrieving packages in the ocean, inspection of ships, simulated Search and Rescue missions using infrared sensors, inspection of coastal areas, harbors etc. The city on the western coast of Norway also featured a 30 mph wind, which provided us the opportunity to demonstrate the Hornet Mini's ability to operate in adverse weather. The Hornet Mini was launched and recovered on the aft deck of the ship. Video from the onboard cameras was fed to a projector on the ship's bridge. The demonstration proved that it is feasible to operate small unmanned helicopters from ships in support of maritime ISR missions.
May 2010:
New serial-based safety pilot link is available! A new pilot link component in the FCS20's FPGA accepts steering commands from the safety pilot via a serial port. This system eliminates the need for a hobby-type RC link for manual control and improve the integrity and security of the communication between the safety pilot (External Pilot) and the aircraft. Typically, such systems add a significant amount of latency to the steering commands, but thanks to the high-performance FPGA in the FCS20, the latency is reduced to a minimum. The Pilot-Link component in the FPGA is designed to "listen" to two serial ports for maximum reliability and safety. A ground-based component (microcontroller) is used to convert the PWM signal train from the RC transmitter to serial commands and send these to the onboard component. This serial-based pilot-link system is now in use on the larger helicopters, but will become standard on our smaller helicopters, too.
May 2010:
Go flybarless! A new logic component in the FCS20 eliminates the need for a flybar on unmanned helicopters and adds another layer of stability to our advanced flight control system. The new Stability Augmentation System (SAS) runs in the FCS20's Field Programmable Gate Array for maximum performance (low latency) and flexibility. It uses input from all three rate gyros (X, Y and Z) to modify actuator output in real-time. It can be configured to accomodate any installation/orientation of the FCS20 in the helicopter and 2, 3 or 4-bladed heads. The SAS component is required for manual (RC) flight of helicopters without flybar or external rudder gyro. It is also used by the main flight controller application, although to a somewhat lesser degree (The SAS should provide high-bandwidth stability without fighting against the controller's commands.). The SAS component is currently in use on a 300 lb 3-bladed helicopter and the Hornet Micro. However, it will soon become standard on all our helicopters and installations.
January 2010:
Adaptive Flight accepts a contract to supply American Unmanned Systems with flight control technology and flight test services for the new Guardian helicopter, a 300 lb helicopter based on the Vantage design developed by the Navy Research Lab. The helicopters (2) are being constructed by in Colorado. Flight testing is scheduled for May - July 2010.
December 2009:
Vehicle-specific configuration file simplifies software management on FCS20: A separate vehicle/flight controller configuration file has been created for the FCS20, eliminating the need for dedicated (compiled) application files for each vehicle. All the vehicle-specific parameters can now be uploaded via the datalink and burned into flash without the need to reload the main application (which used to contain these unique parameters). Permanent flight control parameter changes can now be made in a couple of minutes.
5 March 2009:
Adaptive Flight demonstrates Hornet Micro UAS for FAA at Quantico.
Hosted by the FBI and the FAA's Small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAV) Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) Safety Risk Management Panel (SRMP), the purpose of the invitation-only demonstration was to give the 18 member panel first-hand experience with small UAV commercial operations in the National Air Space (NAS) system. Adaptive Flight's Hornet Micro UAS was the only VTOL system demonstrated.
The Hornet Micro UAV flew preprogrammed orbits at various altitudes and distances as requested by the ARC in order to provide the panel members with an impression of how a UAV "looks" at various altitudes, distances and flight attitudes. After the formal part of the demonstration, the Hornet descended down and inspected some of the FBI's cars. The onboard video was displayed on a video monitor for the audience. The successful demonstration resulted in praise both from the FAA and the FBI. As one panel member
stated: "I believe your company's demonstration did much to alleviate some of the apprehensions of the FAA SRM panel." It also became very obvious to many of people present that the Hornet Micro helicopter enjoys a unique competitive advantage in the US commercial UAV market. This has led to some interesting opportunities for us...
Feb 2009:
Adaptive Flight delivers two Hornet Micro helicopters to Kutta Technologies, Inc. The helicopters will be used in a collaborative effort with the Army Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC) at Picatinny Arsenal, NJ to demonstrate the system's potential to support small unit net centric operations during planned USSOCOM Tactical Network Topology (TNT) experiments at Camp Atterbury.
"Adaptive Flight has and continues to exceed our expectations as a leading developer of unmanned systems. We are extremely pleased with both the Hornet Micro product and the manner in which it was delivered. The platform that we purchased was delivered in an extremely professional case, with all of the documentation, cables, and extra parts required to maintain it. In an industry that, at times, struggles to achieve a production level of quality, Adaptive Flight is a standout performer. Their desire to support and improve their products is a strong sign of their maturity as a company. The entire staff has been very responsive and engaging in all aspects of customer service, and we look forward to continuing our productive relationship with Adaptive Flight."
(David Barnhard, Business Manager, Kutta Technologies, Inc.)
Jan 2009:
Adaptive Flight Inc delivers an autonomous Bergen Observer helicopter to WinTec Arrowmaker. WinTec supports USSOCOM with UAV and communication services during TNT exercises at Camp Roberts and Camp Atterbury. The Bergen Observer will be used to provide real-time ISR and communication services in support of a wide range of technology demonstrations and sensor experiments at the TNT exercise. WinTec plans to instrument up to four additional helicopters with Adaptive Flight's FCS20 Flight Control system. The FCS20 will also be used for network and payload sensor support.
April 2008: FCS20 demonstrates ability to captures digital images at 30 fps, store the images in a 4GB flash drive and send requested images to GCS via Ethernet.
June 2007: AFI signs a contract with WinTec Arrowmaker for the delivery and integration of its FCS20 flight control system in a small fixed-wing aircraft. The project aims to demonstrate the system's flexibility and multi-tasking capabilities by capturing and processing digital image data in parallel with executing flight control functions.
May 2007:
AFI demonstrates autonomous flight with its small Hornet UAV.
Dec 2006:
First flight with new sensor board was successful. Revision A3
of our FCS20 sensor board incorporates new digital accelerometers, compass,
Ethernet and more efficient power supply circuits.
Sep 2006:
AFI signs exclusive license agreement with Georgia Tech
Research Corporation for development and marketing rights for its Adaptive
Flight Control Application software.
