Army researchers survey industry for suppliers of Aeryon SkyRanger small helicopter drones
NATICK, Mass., 3 April 2015. U.S. Army soldier systems experts are surveying industry to find companies able to supply the SkyRanger small unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), designed by Aeryon Labs Inc. in Waterloo Ontario.
Officials of the Army Contracting Command in Natick, Mass., issued a request for information this week for the Aeryon Labs SkyRanger UAV project to find suppliers of the four-rotor SkyRanger unmanned helicopter.
The Army Contracting Command is issuing the request for information on behalf of the Army's Natick Soldier Research, Development & Engineering Center in Natick, Mass.
The Aeryon Labs SkyRanger backpackable helicopter UAV is 40 inches in diameter and 9.3 inches high that can fly for as long as 50 minutes to distances as far as 3.1 miles at altitudes above the ground of 1,500 feet. It weighs 5.3 pounds without payload.
The handheld UAV can fly in sustained winds of 40 miles per hour, with gusts to 55 miles per hour, can operate in temperatures from -30 to 50 degrees Celsius, and can carry a 3-axis stabilized high-resolution electro-optical camera, with optional custom UAV sensor payloads.
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The system uses a low-latency all-digital network control and data link with 256-bit encryption for security. Army researchers also are interested in batteries, cameras, and antennas for the SkyRanger UAV.
Information from the survey is for planning purposes and does not guarantee a contract solicitation or contract awards.
Companies with UAVs that meet Army requirements should email short summaries describing their products and capabilities no later than 7 April 2015 -- next Tuesday -- to the Army's Paul Yatsco at [email protected]. Phone Paul Yatsco for questions or concerns at 508-233-6143.
For more information about the Aeryon SkyRanger UAV contact Aeryon Labs online at www.aeryon.com.
More information on the Army's request for information is online at https://www.fbo.gov/notices/61fe663254b77559661fef3f606eab9b.
John Keller | Editor
John Keller is editor-in-chief of Military & Aerospace Electronics magazine, which provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronic and optoelectronic technologies in military, space, and commercial aviation applications. A member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since the magazine's founding in 1989, Mr. Keller took over as chief editor in 1995.
