A new mobile camera on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is going to make it easier for soldiers to get a better idea about dangers they face in real time. The UAV which has been dubbed the SQ-4 is controlled using a handheld remote control and smart goggles.
The wearer will get information about the latitude and longitude of the vehicle, the distance that they are from their home point, and the direction of the home point from the current location. The device may ensure that the soldiers never get lost in the field again.
The intelligent UAV system also allows the SQ-4 to fly on its own from its last position to the launch point, so the soldier is not forced to carry it with him even as he can use it to orient himself. It is the size of a Frisbee and weighs just 230 g. The SQ-4 is small enough to fit into a soldier’s backpack but it is also easy enough to start up and operate in under a minute.
Dr Stephen Prior, a Middlesex University robotics specialist said that it was vital that soldiers surveillance work goes unnoticed and SQ-4 is far smaller than current devices which look very much like large model aircraft and are over a metre in size.
Dr Prior added that they were providing a bird's eye view with a vehicle that's literally the size of a bird. He said that the camera could hover or even perch on objects as it zoomed in on any suspicious activity or devices in its vicinity. The miniature cameras also have a night lens that makes it useful for surveillance operations after dark. The device is to be unveiled at the DSEi at the ExCel London exhibition.