Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Surveillance Vehicles Take Flight Using Alternative Energy

This photo shows the Ion Tiger. (Credit: US Naval Research Laboratory)

From Science Daily:

ScienceDaily (Apr. 6, 2009) — Nearly undetectable from the ground, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are widely used by the military to scan terrain for possible threats and intelligence. Now, fuel cell powered UAVs are taking flight as an Office of Naval Research (ONR)-sponsored program to help tactical decision-makers gather critical information more efficiently… and more quietly.

Piloted remotely or autonomously, UAVs have long provided extra "eyes in the sky" especially for missions that are too dangerous for manned aircraft. This latest technology is showcased by Ion Tiger, a UAV research program at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) that merges two separate efforts — UAV technology and fuel cell systems.

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