Brock Technologies Inc announces newest SHARK UAS design
Brock Technologies Incorporated (Tucson, AZ USA) announces one of their newest unmanned system designs dubbed the SHARK. The SHARK is a small tube launched Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) capable of performing silent ISR at low altitudes for long periods of time. The SHARK was designed to fit within a five inch inner diameter launch tube. The SHARK is fabricated using the latest in composite materials and processes to produce an affordable system that weighs only 5.5 pounds.
The strength to weight ratio of the composite parts has been made possible utilizing a process Brock Technologies calls Super Compression Molding (SCM.) With this method, the total number of composite plies is reduced without impact to the overall component strength. In addition to the SCM process, the SHARK employs composite castings which allow for light weight embedded parts and in the near future, injection molded parts. This translates to low per unit airframe costs, allowing the end user to operate with more advanced payloads and sensors. The system depicted incorporates a light weight gyro-stabilized pan, tilt sensor unit capable of housing an optical zoom EO color camera, a long wave infrared camera, or a short wave infrared camera. This permits the SHARK to perform both daytime and nighttime operations.
Initial SHARK flight testing began in early 2010. The flight tests were performed by means of an inflight mother ship launch. This series of air launches proved the advanced control systems and allowed Brock Technologies to tune the gains before tube launching.
The SHARK UAS measures 31 inches in length and spans 38 inches with the wings deployed. This small lightweight system has a payload carrying capability of 1.0 lb. The small system footprint coupled with a quiet propulsion system makes the SHARK difficult to see or hear.
Source: Brock Technologies
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