1. 1. APID 55 VTOL Miniature UAV, Sweden UAE protects its borders with UAV surveillance
2. 2. Introduction The Apid 55 is a miniature vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system designed and manufactured by CybAero for the United Arab Emirates Defense Agency (UAEDA). The vehicle can perform intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance operations in hostile environments even in adverse sight conditions. Apid 55 grew out of an early 1990s research project run by the University of Linkoping in Sweden. It is a fully autonomous rotary-wing UAV that is applicable to a wide range of civil and military roles. It captures the real time imagery or videos of the battlefield and transmits to the GCS through a satellite communication data link with in a range of up to 50km.
3. 3. Design and Features Apid 55 can take-off from and land vertically either on a runway or unprepared airstrips. It is fitted with a four-bladed main rotor system of 3.3m-diameter, two-bladed tail rotor system, alternators, antennas and back up power batteries. Flying at a maximum altitude of 3,000m, the UAV can provide its operators with real time intelligence data by executing surveillance and reconnaissance missions over a large area. A GPS, gyros, accelerometers, compass, infra-red altitude meter, barometric altitude, laser scanners and stabilized cameras are also installed in the helicopter. The aircraft can be transported on a pick up transport vehicle.
4. 4. Engine and Sensor The Apid 55 is powered by a single Hirith E18H engine. The E18H is a two cylinder, two-stroke fuel injected engine which produces 41kW of output power using gasoline as fuel. The Apid 55 can fly at a maximum speed of 90km/h. The aircraft is equipped with electro-optic (EO) and infra-red (IR) sensors. The EO sensor transforms light rays into electronic signals for capturing real time imagery or videos of the battlefield.
5. 5. Navigation and GCS The Apid 55 can be controlled either manually from the GCS or through autonomous mode. The helicopter can be operated through pre-programmed waypoints, which can be changed during flight using a graphical user interface system. Ground control system (GCS) is designed and manufactured to process, retrieve, store and monitor the real time imagery or videos provided by the aircraft using a graphical user interface (GCU). The operators residing in the GCS operate the vehicle through payload control systems.
6. 6. Specification Electrical Power : 12-24V alternators, back-up power batteries Data Link : operational radius (max): 27nm Maximum takeoff weight : 330 pounds Fuel capacity : 15.8 U.S. gallons Endurance : 6hr Endurance speed : 32kt Ceiling : 9,800ft
7. 7. References http://en.ruvsa.com/catalog/apid_55/ http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2006-12-07/uae- protects-its-borders-uav-surveillance http://en.ruvsa.com/catalog/apid_55/
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