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signal. According to SkyTower's Stuart Hindle, "SkyTower platforms are basically geostationary satellites without the time delay." Hindle said that such platforms flying in the stratosphere, as opposed to actual satellites, can achieve much higher levels of frequency use. "A single SkyTower platform can provide over 1,000 times the fixed broadband local access capacity of a geostationary satellite using the same frequency band, on a
312:
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set a world record for flight at 96,863 feet (29,524 m). It was intended to be the prototype for the production Helios aircraft, envisioned as an "atmospheric satellite". The ERAST program was terminated in 2003, and as of 2008, Helios has not entered production. In actuality, it has been reborn
672:
wireless communications signal from 65,000 ft (20,000 m). It was the equivalent of a 12 mi (19 km) tall transmitter tower. Because of the aircraft's high angle, the transmission utilized only one watt of power, or 1/10,000 that required by a terrestrial tower to provide the same
563:
design small enough to be deployed by an individual to collect surveillance. It weighs 5 oz (0.14 kg), can reach speeds of 20 mph (32 km/h) with a range of more than 0.6 mi (0.97 km). It has flight times of 15 minutes, can withstand winds of 15 mph (24 km/h),
505:
navigation. It was designed to demonstrate advanced propulsion technologies. It flew in June 2007 for five hours, powered by an onboard "fuel cell battery hybrid energy storage system". A flight in
November 2007 lasted more than seven hours. On July 2, 2008, USSOCOM selected the Puma AE variant as
485:– a small military UAV. It is hand launched with a wingspan of 4.5 feet (1.4 m) and a weight of 4.2 pounds (1.9 kg), providing color and infrared video to its handheld ground control and remote viewing stations. Over 9,000 Ravens had been delivered or were on order as of June 2008.
516:
look-alike drone equipped with a camera, it could fly at speeds of up to 11 miles (18 km) per hour. It could climb and descend vertically, fly sideways, forward and backward, as well as rotate clockwise and counter-clockwise by remote control for about eight
1076:
659:
In July 2002 the NASA/AeroVironment UAV Pathfinder Plus carried commercial communications relay equipment developed by
Skytower to test using the aircraft as an "atmospheric satellite". Skytower, in partnership with NASA and the
459:. It appears to have 4 motors with twin-bladed props, a 175-foot (53 m) wingspan, 65,000-foot (20,000 m) maximum altitude, airspeed greater than 120 mph (190 km/h), and 5 to 7 day maximum flight duration.
410:(ERAST) Program, demonstrated that an airplane could stay aloft for extended periods fueled by solar power. After initial successes, the Pathfinder was rebuilt into the larger Pathfinder Plus, which is on display at NASM.
655:
AeroVironment owns
Skytower, Inc., which was formed in 2000 to develop the technologies and government approvals to use high altitude UAVs as "atmospheric satellites", or high altitude communications relay platforms.
588:
to develop UAV propulsion technologies. The contract also provided for specific tasks such as integration of solar cells into aircraft wings, electric motor efficiency improvement, and hydrogen storage systems.
501:– a small lightweight, battery powered, hand-launched production UAV that provides aerial observation at line-of-sight ranges up to 6.2 miles (10.0 km). Puma's avionics enable autonomous flight via
629:(HAPS) networks, with AeroVironment as a minority owner. HAPSMobile develops the Hawk30 solar-powered unmanned aircraft for stratospheric telecommunications, and has a strategic relationship with
491:– a miniature, hand-launched UAV that provides aerial observation at line-of-sight ranges up to 3.1 miles (5.0 km). In 2007, the Wasp was selected by the US Air Force as the choice for their
393:).The goal was to develop the world's first "fly forever" HALE UAV that could be configured for national security missions. The program was cancelled in 1995, due to budget reductions in the
389:(BMDO) in 1993, where it was modified as a high altitude, long endurance (HALE) UAV technology demonstrator capable of becoming weaponized to destroy boost-phase theater ballistic missiles (
571:
Quantix – drone, 40 km range, 45 min flight time, 2.3 kg weight, controlled via encrypted radio, automated, programmed autonomous flights possible, multifunctional camera
1348:
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at which time the aircraft, called
Pathfinder, was transferred to NASA. Pathfinder flew flight test missions at NASAs Dryden Flight Research Center before the transfer.
416:– The Centurion was an expansion of the Pathfinder concept, designed to achieve the ERAST Program goal of sustained flight at 100,000 feet (30,000 m) altitude.
1043:
806:
1373:
407:
1338:
465:– This solar-powered car won the first world's first solar car race in Australia in 1987. The next fastest car finished two days later. This car is at the
1368:
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568:
sensors to take photos or video in day or night conditions. In May 2017, the first 20 Snipes were delivered to an undisclosed U.S. military customer.
1118:
951:
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in the 1980s as the first unmanned solar-powered aircraft prototyped for national security missions. It was declassified and transferred to the
901:
996:"SkyTower Successfully Tests World's First Commercial Telecom Applications from More Than 65,000 feet (20,000 m) in the Stratosphere"
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and claimed the largest prize in aviation history. Another of these planes is displayed at the
National Air and Space Museum.
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weapon, for field use. Now deployed in two configurations, the 300 for attacking personnel and the 600 for attacking armor.
810:
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in the form of the Global
Observer UAS, currently in development under a Joint Concept Technology Demonstration led by
148:
753:
1104:
1081:
1258:
1248:
1208:
807:"Air Force Special Operations Command - Fact Sheet (Printable) : WASP III MICRO REMOTELY PILOTED AIRCRAFT"
772:
626:
1243:
1238:
848:"Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle again Achieves Record Flight Time Using Protonex Fuel Cell System Technology"
585:
524:
345:
1142:
355:
754:"AeroVironment Awarded Contract for Development of Global Observer Stratospheric Unmanned Aircraft System"
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and solar-powered vehicles. The company is the US military's top supplier of small drones —notably the
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527:(VTOL)-fixed wing hybrid UAV, which offered VTOL takeoff capability and decreased energy usage.
492:
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976:""3G Tested at 65,000 feet (20,000 m) in the stratosphere" 3G news release July 23, 2002"
1273:
644:
439:(USSOCOM]). The key technology shift was switching from solar power to liquid hydrogen power.
1021:
344:– The first successful human-powered airplane. The Gossamer Condor is on display at the US
8:
256:
126:
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381:
High
Altitude Solar (HALSOL)-This solar-powered unmanned aircraft was sponsored by the
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attack drones. As of 7 November, it is unclear whether the request has been approved.
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in flight over Hawaii, June 2002, equipped with
Skytower communications equipment
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833:"Puma Small UAS Achieves Record Flight Using Fuel Cell Battery Hybrid System",
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37:
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881:
685:
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45:
952:"US considers Israeli request for hundreds of Switchblade 600 attack drones"
684:
In
January 2021, the company acquired Arcturus UAV, the manufacturer of the
975:
757:
564:
and is equipped with EO/IR. It is low light-capable and includes long-wave
349:
793:"Global Observer UAS – Stratospheric Persistent UAV by AeroVironment, Inc"
358:– In 1979, this human-powered plane flew 23 miles (37 km) across the
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678:
513:
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419:
1044:"Defence deals snapshot: Aerovironment acquires Arcturus UAV for $ 405m"
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Program. As of 2008, over 1,000 Wasp aircraft had been delivered.
295:
593:
403:– This unmanned plane, built by AeroVironment as a part of the
54:
479:, developed as a prototype for a mass-production consumer car.
584:(indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity) contract from the
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404:
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As of 2007 AeroVironment held a five-year, $ 4.7 million
502:
382:
773:"New generation of unmanned spy planes is being tested"
1294:
902:"AeroVironment Delivers Tiny Drones to U.S. Military"
408:
Environmental
Research Aircraft and Sensor Technology
706:"AeroVironment, Inc. 2022 Annual Report (Form 10-K)"
506:
its All Environment Capable Variant (AECV) solution.
368:– A solar-powered variant of the Gossamer Albatross.
1349:
Electric vehicle manufacturers of the United States
229:
1330:
451:reported first flight of Global Observer in the
275:. The company is best known for its lightweight
870:"U.S. Troops Will Soon Get Tiny Kamikaze Drone"
467:Smithsonian National Museum of American History
374:– This plane flew 163 miles (262 km) from
1002:, July 22, 2002. Retrieved September 11, 2008.
1374:Companies based in Arlington County, Virginia
1112:
16:American unmanned aerial vehicle manufacturer
1014:"Stratospheric Platform Serves As Satellite"
723:
721:
719:
1339:Aircraft manufacturers of the United States
861:
829:
827:
533:– A miniature, electrically powered, armed
303:shows a cross section of the AeroVironment/
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1105:
337:Among the vehicles the company built are:
299:AeroVironment founder and former Chairman
25:
1005:
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1369:Technology companies established in 1971
1359:1971 establishments in the United States
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437:United States Special Operations Command
321:
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710:U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
1344:Defense companies of the United States
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664:used the aircraft to transmit both an
387:Ballistic Missile Defense Organization
1100:
735:from the original on 24 November 2010
662:Japan Ministry of Telecommunications
378:, France, to England on solar power.
850:Protonex press release Nov. 28 2007
455:in January, 2011. The aircraft was
422:– Derived from the Centurion, this
401:NASA Pathfinder and Pathfinder Plus
13:
968:
868:Ackerman, Spencer (October 2011).
633:, a subsidiary of Google's parent
586:U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory
14:
1385:
1364:1971 establishments in California
1060:
1316:
1304:
1082:US Patent & Trademark Office
1077:"Patents owned by AeroVironment"
926:"Ukraine erhält Quantix Drohnen"
259:, that designs and manufactures
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1012:Leonard, David (July 24, 200).
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906:www.nationaldefensemagazine.org
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639:
348:(NASM), since it won the first
240:Footnotes / references
1354:Companies listed on the Nasdaq
950:Vincent, Brandi (2023-11-08).
842:
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627:High Altitude Platform Station
1:
771:Hennigan, W.J. (2011-01-11).
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525:vertical take-off and landing
346:National Air and Space Museum
176:US$ −4.2 million (2022)
159:US$ −10 million (2022)
7:
596:submitted a request to the
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307:Helios Prototype wing spar.
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100:; 53 years ago
10:
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1185:MacCready Solar Challenger
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333:(right) on the Dryden ramp
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271:, founded the company in
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836:Aerotech News and Review
598:US Department of Defense
553:Puma LE (Long Endurance)
287:, Wasp and Puma models.
261:unmanned aerial vehicles
932:(in German). 2022-04-21
729:"NASA Helios factsheet"
512:– Announced in 2011, a
978:. 3g.co.uk. 2002-07-23
855:March 4, 2009, at the
652:
395:Clinton Administration
334:
319:
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269:human-powered aircraft
210:US$ 608 million (2022)
193:US$ 914 million (2022)
142:US$ 446 million (2022)
930:soldat-und-technik.de
668:signal as well as an
647:
420:NASA Helios Prototype
391:Boost Phase Intercept
325:
314:
298:
265:Paul B. MacCready Jr.
117:Paul B. MacCready Jr.
1219:NASA Pathfinder Plus
625:planning to operate
621:is a subsidiary of
457:powered by hydrogen
257:Arlington, Virginia
249:AeroVironment, Inc.
216:Number of employees
127:Arlington, Virginia
21:
20:AeroVironment, Inc.
1145:Gossamer Albatross
688:UAV for US$ 405m.
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356:Gossamer Albatross
335:
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253:defense contractor
81:Aerospace industry
19:
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778:Los Angeles Times
448:Los Angeles Times
255:headquartered in
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1249:Nano Hummingbird
1179:Gossamer Penguin
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809:. Archived from
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760:on May 20, 2008.
756:. Archived from
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675:bytes per second
556:VAPOR Helicopter
549:RQ-14 Dragon Eye
510:Nano Hummingbird
372:Solar Challenger
366:Gossamer Penguin
331:Helios Prototype
267:, a designer of
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443:Global Observer
360:English Channel
342:Gossamer Condor
327:Pathfinder Plus
316:Gossamer Condor
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1024:on 2008-05-15
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1026:. Retrieved
1022:the original
1007:
999:
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980:. Retrieved
970:
959:. Retrieved
956:DefenseScoop
955:
945:
934:. Retrieved
929:
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909:. Retrieved
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885:. Retrieved
873:
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844:
834:
815:. Retrieved
811:the original
801:
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758:the original
748:
737:. Retrieved
731:. Nasa.gov.
700:
683:
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640:Subsidiaries
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477:electric car
446:
350:Kremer Prize
336:
248:
247:
239:
220:1,214 (2022)
200:Total equity
183:Total assets
123:Headquarters
34:Company type
1279:Switchblade
1254:RQ-11 Raven
1209:NASA Helios
679:square mile
531:Switchblade
514:hummingbird
483:RQ-11 Raven
329:(left) and
285:Switchblade
64:S&P 600
1333:Categories
1264:RQ-20 Puma
1177:MacCready
1151:MacCready
1143:MacCready
1088:5 December
1049:2021-01-20
982:2010-11-27
961:2024-03-21
936:2023-03-25
911:2022-04-10
887:2022-04-10
817:2009-03-26
739:2010-11-27
692:References
619:HAPSMobile
614:HAPSMobile
608:HAPSMobile
559:Snipe – a
499:RQ-20 Puma
424:solar cell
166:Net income
1311:Companies
1018:Space.com
882:1059-1028
592:In 2023,
561:quadrotor
473:GM Impact
463:Sunraycer
428:fuel cell
66:component
46:Traded as
1323:Aviation
1130:aircraft
853:Archived
733:Archived
681:basis."
670:IMT-2000
631:Loon LLC
623:SoftBank
600:for 200
576:Programs
566:infrared
538:kamikaze
517:minutes.
489:Wasp III
430:powered
352:in 1977.
291:Vehicles
263:(UAVs).
74:Industry
1297:Portals
1274:SkyTote
1170:Piloted
521:SkyTote
318:at NASM
225:Website
134:Revenue
113:Founder
103: (
95:Founded
57::
880:
594:Israel
493:BATMAV
445:– The
55:Nasdaq
38:Public
1000:Ewire
874:Wired
376:Paris
281:Raven
230:avinc
1284:Wasp
1269:T-20
1197:UAVs
1195:NASA
1090:2005
1030:2008
878:ISSN
677:per
666:HDTV
582:IDIQ
523:– a
426:and
405:NASA
305:NASA
273:1971
232:.com
105:1971
98:1971
59:AVAV
503:GPS
432:UAV
383:CIA
1335::
1079:.
1016:.
998:,
954:.
928:.
904:.
876:.
872:.
826:^
775:.
718:^
708:.
283:,
1299::
1120:e
1113:t
1106:v
1092:.
1052:.
1032:.
985:.
964:.
939:.
914:.
890:.
820:.
795:.
781:.
742:.
469:.
107:)
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