28-Jun-2011 Source: Schiebel
Schiebel understands that the unique capabilities of the CAMCOPTER® S-100 UAS provide a wide range of civil applications. The company expects to see the S-100 used in a variety of situations and for tasks previously unimaginable. The drone s outstanding performance in recent high-voltage power line inspections in Austria again demonstrated the S-100 s versatility.
Wherever surveillance from the air or sensor measurement is required, deployment of the CAMCOPTER® S-100 is feasible. This drone system especially stands out for its hovering capabilities, which are of advantage in many monitoring tasks. Fields of application for the drone in the civil market are manifold and not limited to anti-bootleg and anti-people-smuggling missions, search for mineral and fossil fuel deposits, antipiracy actions, harbor patrol, search and rescue as well as disaster support and monitoring. Also routine monitoring of pipelines, water lines, power lines, communication lines and large factory premises and plants as well as its use for scientific measurements and movie shoots present possible fields of application.
Lately the S-100 performed power line monitoring flights for several days in Austria. At an average airspeed of 30 knots (55 km/h) also the poles, surge arresters and isolators were inspected. High-definition images taken with the L3 Wescam MX-10 payload were transmitted to the control station in real time. The imagery identified the areas of damage or corrosion as well as spots of bad conductivity on the power lines, thus enabling teams of technicians to focus only on the affected cables and towers. It was the first time in Europe that a UAS performed these inspection tasks, which are usually carried out by manned helicopters.
The advantages of the CAMCOPTER® S-100 UAS for civil missions are obvious: This system is uniquely capable of penetrating areas that may be too dangerous for piloted aircraft or ground patrols. Its powerful surveillance capabilities provide constant real-time information 24/7 without any need for prepared area and launch and/or recovery support equipment. This drone system operates day and night, under adverse weather conditions, with a beyond line-of-sight capability of up to 200 km, both on land and at sea. And last but not least, the S-100 UAS is far more cost-effective than any manned alternative.
As Hans Schiebel, President of the Schiebel Group, commented, “At Schiebel, we continually strive for perfection through a process of relentless and iterative improvement. This, of course, leads us to identify new applications for the S-100 in the vast civil market. We look forward to supporting our customers by meeting their requirements at much lower cost than any similarly equipped manned helicopter.”
About Schiebel:
Founded in 1951, the Vienna-based Schiebel Group of companies focuses on the development, testing and production of state-of-the-art mine detection equipment and the revolutionary CAMCOPTER® S-100 Unmanned Air System (UAS). Schiebel has built an international reputation for producing quality defense and humanitarian products, which are backed by exceptional after-sales service and support. Since 2010 Schiebel offers the new division composite and is able to supply high-tech customers with this high-quality carbon fiber technology. All products are quality-controlled to meet ISO 9001 standards. With headquarters in Vienna (Austria), Schiebel now maintains production facilities in Wiener Neustadt (Austria), and Abu Dhabi (UAE), as well as offices in Washington DC (USA), and Phnom Penh (Cambodia).
About the CAMCOPTER® S-100:
Schiebel s CAMCOPTER® S-100 Unmanned Air System (UAS) is a proven capability for military and civilian applications. The Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) UAS needs no prepared area, supporting launch or recovery equipment. It operates day and night, under adverse weather conditions, with a beyond line-of-sight capability out to 200 km, both on land and at sea. The S-100 navigates via pre-programmed GPS waypoints or is operated with a Pilot Control Unit. Missions are planned and controlled via simple point-and-click graphical user interface and high definition payload imagery is transmitted to the control station in real-time. Using “fly-by-wire” technology controlled by a triple-redundant flight computer, the AV can complete its mission automatically. Its carbon fiber and titanium fuselage provides capacity for a wide range of payload/endurance combinations up to a service ceiling of 18,000 ft and, in the standard configuration, carries a 75 lbs/34kg payload for over 6 hours.
