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Tactical Robotics launched aerial application variant of Cormorant UAV for agricultural use
Aug. 13, 2018
Tactical Robotics Ltd.
IsraelFollow
Israel
Tactical Robotics Ltd., a subsidiary of Urban Aeronautics announced the launch of development of an agricultural use derivative of its Cormorant Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).
Cormorant is developed by Tactical Robotics Ltd., a fully owned subsidiary of Urban Aeronautics Ltd. Following a decade of R&D, Cormorant’s prototype, has completed 250 successful flights. Its VTOL combined capabilities of full autonomy of operation, agile control and all-internal lift rotors, offer an order-of-magnitude' improvement in safety and operational capabilities over the standard helicopter. With all internal rotors, a car-sized footprint and a 500 Kg load, the employment of Cormorant for aerial application is potentially transformative.
Moving into the future, agricultural aviation is facing a shortage of pilots on one hand, together with increasing restrictions on aerial application due to the drift of material to adjacent fields and populated areas. Tactical Robotics is developing a specialized variant of its Cormorant that addresses these challenges. The “Ag-Cormorant”, due to its VTOL capability and car-sized footprint, eliminates the need for ferry flights over busy roads and populated areas from a distant airstrip. This ability to be deployed from with the perimeter of a field or plantation is essential In order to avoid the complications of having to secure clearances from local aviation regulatory agencies (FAA, EASA or other). These authorizations for an unmanned aircraft to fly 500 Kg of potentially toxic chemicals over civil airspace are far from certain.
Ag-Cormorant is truck-transportable directly to the perimeter of the field, which is pre-authorized as “closed airspace” as is already routinely done for utility helicopters used for electrical grid maintenance, logging and such.
In addition to the above, the Ag-Cormorant provides the most precise application imaginable;
| • | No vortices or updrafts behind the aircraft entirely eliminates drift of materials to neighboring fields. |
| • |
Strong, focused downwash directly below the aircraft can be used to propel the materials down into the crop canopy providing superb coverage of the bottom of the leaves. |
| • |
Selectable vanes directing the downwash offer a selection of dispersion techniques as is optimal for the specific crop being treated. |
| • | Application speeds for Ag-Cormorant will vary from 100 knots down to a hover. |
| • |
Due to its internal, slow turning multi bladed fans, Ag-Cormorant’s noise level will be less than highway traffic from 250 meters, making it possible to work at night without disturbing neighboring farms. |
Source: Tactical Robotics
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