Israeli-made Tactical Robotics AirMule unmanned aerial system completed first autonomous flight 10901163

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Defence & Security Industry News - Tactical Robotics
 
Israeli-made Tactical Robotics AirMule unmanned aerial system completed first autonomous flight.
On December 30, 2015, Israeli-made AirMule successfully completed its first autonomous, untethered flight at the Megiddo airfield in northern Israel. The AirMule is an unmmaned aerial system capable of lifting 1,000 pounds (450 kg) in weight and can carry its loads for 31 miles (50 km).
     
On December 30, 2015, Israeli-made AirMule successfully completed its first autonomous, untethered flight at the Megiddo airfield in northern Israel. The AirMule is an unmmaned aerial system capable of lifting 1,000 pounds (450 kg) in weight and can carry its loads for 31 miles (50 km). The Israeli-made Tactical Robotics AirMule during a flying test.
     
2015 was a challenging year for the Istaeli Company Tactical Robotics that included a ground incident that damaged our AirMule demonstrator. While the repair of the aircraft imposed a delay of several months in the development schedule, it also gave to the Company an opportunity to make significant upgrades to the aircraft systems.

Tactical Robotics installed new equipment and integrated new safety features. In parallel to the repair and upgrade activity, engineers of the Company initiated and carried out a rigorous examination process with the Israeli CAA in order to get authorization for untethered flight testing.

The manufacturer, Tactical Robotics Ltd, says on its website: "Battle conditions that are increasingly averse to conventional rotorcraft access.

"Today’s conflicts are increasingly defined by insurgents whose battlefields of choice are cities, villages and other environments that are inaccessible to helicopters.

"Supply convoys and medical teams entering these locations experience lethal threats unlike any that have been experienced in the past."

Rafi Yoeli, CEO of Urban Aeronautics – Tactical Robots' parent company – said: "We expect that in 2016 we will finally be able to demonstrate some of AirMule's unique capabilities."

The Israeli-made Tactical Robotics AirMule is a compact, unmanned, single-engine, VTOL (Vertical Take Off and Landing) aircraft. Internal lift rotors enable the AirMule to fly inside obstructed (e.g. mountainous, wooded, urban) terrain where helicopters are unable to operate.

The AirMule is innovative due to its internal rotors and significant payload capacity that allows for the evacuation of 2 casualties as well as fast and flexible payload reconfiguration for other missions. It is also ideally suited to special robotic operation, for example via Tele-Presence.
     
     
AirMule offers much needed capabilities to emergency responders in routine, day-to-day operations as well as in the most challenging situations such as earthquakes and floods. The ability to quickly deliver water, food and medical supplies directly to affected populations—no matter how isolated—will save lives. During nuclear, biological or chemical emergencies AirMule offers transformative assessment and response capabilities. Day to day multiple mission capability (electric grids, bridge inspection, agricultural spraying, offshore oil platform support to name a few) makes AirMule a cost effective addition to any commercial helicopter fleet.

AirMule’s maneuverability, small visual footprint, low noise and reduced radar and IR signatures offer a stealth advantage that greatly enhances its effectiveness and survivability in these environments. Unmatched time to target with the unprecedented capability of CasEvac on return offers life saving potential. Simplicity of design without a complex cyclic rotor head means high reliability and low operating cost.