First UAV conference focused on agriculture
10/2011
Guided Systems sponsored the first UAV conference focused on agriculture.  Guided Systems CEO Young Kim was the Conference Chair and CTO Dr. Eric Corban presented details of a small autonomous UAV helicopter integrated with a multispectral imager targeted at the precision agriculture market.  Dr. Raul Fernandez from Argentina, an renown economist and President of Aerodreams gave the conference key note presentation covering the world wide market opportunity for  UAV's in agriculture.  Aerodreams and Guided Systems are partners in delivering Manned-to-Unmanned converted helicopters for the agricultural aerial spraying market.  

Production and field testing Completed on SiCX25
6/2011
Guided Systems completed the production and initial field testing of a number of model SiCX-25 unmanned helicopter systems for delivery to military forces outside the U.S.  Testing included validation of hover, climb and high-speed flight performance at ambient temperatures above 100 degrees F, statical characterization of the precision of fully-automated take-off and landing in varying wind conditions, stability and resolution of the EO and IR on-board imagery delivered to the operator's station, validation of the various mission planning and mission execution functions, line-of-sight range of the RF communications equipment, and flight endurance

Visit Us at the AUVSI Show 2011
5/2011
Meet us at AUVSI North America in Washington, D.C., 16-19 August 2011.
Booth # 1421

Teamed with Leptron to produce the Leptron "Avenger"
2/2011
Leptron and Guided Systems have teamed to produce the Leptron "Avenger" fully-automated electric unmanned helicopter system (also known as the Guided Systems Model SiCX-10E), which sets the standard for small, electric, automated helicopter systems for law enforcement applications.  The system was carefully designed to meet the demanding requirements of law enforcement agencies, and was recently purchased by the Arlington Texas Police for applications that enhance safety and public protection.  The city of Arlington is believed to be the first city in the nation to obtain FAA approval of a certificate of authorization to operate the unmanned helicopter.  The vehicle, which can carry a number of different payloads for up to 30 minutes, is automated by Guided Systems, and can be operated from a laptop using missions created by placing way points on a map.  Alternately, it can be operated by a person from take-off to landing with a simple hand held joystick.  In the latter case the system always remains fully stabilized.  If the radio link between the vehicle and operator is ever disrupted, the vehicle will automatically return to the take-off location and execute a complete landing on its own.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0gvbN5uxEs

Awarded Phase II SBIR Enhancement
1/2011
Guided Systems was awarded a Phase II SBIR enhancement by the USAF/AFMS/AFRL/RWAV Flight Vehicle Integration Branch to continue the development, test, validation and transition of its technology for vision-based obstacle avoidance solutions tailored to the requirements of small and micro air vehicles.  The solution employs a single camera, and combines advanced algorithms for rapid image segmentation and vehicle guidance with traditional GPS and inertial sensors to detect and avoid the obstacles typical of low-level operations in an urban environment, even during significant periods of GPS obscuration.

Shipping of Hercules UAV Avionics Suite
12/2010
Guided Systems began shipping its proven Hercules UAV avionics suite to the first outside customer.  It features a Piccolo flight computer and inertial measurement unit, an advanced GPS/GLONASS receiver, a solid-state data logger, a primary spread-spectrum radio data link available in multiple frequency bands, a wide array of video link options, and an optional auxiliary pilot link (2.4 GHz), all housed in a lightweight enclosure with aerospace-grade connectors and forced-air cooling that protects critical components from vibration, water and dust.  The system also includes an external laser or radar for sensing height above terrain, an external magnetometer, support for both PWM and serial-interface actuators, and sensing of fuel and voltage levels, RPM, and engine temperatures.  It also features built-in support for system expansion via a single-board PC, high-capacity solid-state data storage device, real-time image capture card, and a 16 or 32 channel analog data acquisition system, all managed by the operator using the popular Piccolo Command Center application software.

Completion of Phase II SBIR for the Missle Defense Agency
12/2010
Guided Systems has successfully completed a Phase II SBIR contract executed for the Missile Defense Agency which demonstrated an advanced adaptive guidance law for intercept of maneuvering ballistic missiles.  The developed adaptive technology, which does not depend on a direct measurement of range to the target, enables the design of effective intercept guidance without dependence on models of anticipated target motion, making the solution robust to variation in target behavior.  The new technology was evaluated against existing guidance laws in simulation of various intercept scenarios by Lockheed Martin as part of the Phase II program.

High-altitude and Long-range RF Testing Completed on the SiCX-25
11/2010
Guided Systems successfully completed initial high-altitude and long-range RF testing of the model SiCX-25 unmanned helicopter with integrated Cloud Cap TASE 300 day/night imaging payload.  The tests demonstrated hover out-of-ground effect at pressure altitudes over 10,000 feet above mean sea level, as well as successful transmission of real-time video and real-time command of the imaging payload at 15 Kilometers line-of-sight range from the operator station.

Visit Us at the AUVSI Show 2010
6/2010
Meet us at AUVSI North America in Denver Colorado, 24-27 August 2010.
Booth # 2825
We'll be announcing industry first VTOL products and capabilities!

TASE 300 Integrated on SiCX-25 Unmanned Helicopter
3/2010
Guided Systems has successfully integrated the Cloud Cap/Goodrich TASE 300 Imaging Payload on the fully automated Model SiCX-25 Unmanned Helicopter System producing a highly advanced unmanned VTOL reconnaissance and surveillance capability in a small and affordable package.  The TASE 300 features a 2D stabilized EO and IR imaging combination with laser pointer, along with on-board real-time digital image stabilization and various scene and target tracking functions.  The system is engineered to enable the effective use of the full zoom capability of the EO camera under reasonable lighting conditions.  The SiCX-25 unmanned helicopter can deliver this imaging payload in hover OGE at altitudes exceeding 6,000 feet on a hot day with a two hour fuel load.

Visit Us at the AUVSI Show 2009
7/2009
Co-exhibiting with Cloud Cap
Meet us at booth 635
AUVSI's Unmanned Systems North America 2009
August 10-13, 2009
Washington Convention Center
Washington, DC, USA

Helicopter Autopilot on Vario XLC Complete
7/2009
Guided Systems completed the validation of fully autonomous flight operations, including take-off and landing, on the Vario XLC for a U.S. government customer. Flight validation and system delivery followed an engineering services contract for integration of its adaptive helicopter autopilot solution on the turbine powered vehicle and completion of government personnel flight operations training.

Integration of satellite communications equipment complete
7/2009
Under the terms of a delivery contract, Guided Systems has integrated an Iridium satellite-based data modem on a small helicopter to enable continuous communication with the vehicle autopilot when line-of-sight communications is lost. This capability is now being prepared for use in a contracted near-term technical demonstration of a special purpose unmanned helicopter that will operate for extended periods beyond-line-of-sight communications with the operator station.

Flight Demonstration of Helicopter Terrain Following Flight
6/2009
Guided Systems successfully completed flight demonstration of a newly developed capability to perform low-altitude helicopter terrain following flight. Developed for a U.S. government laboratory for mapping applications, the system employs a laser altimeter coupled to a GPS-aided inertial navigation solution to produce precision tracking of height above ground while autonomously completing a specified flight plan.

First Closed-Loop Flight Test of Image-Based Obstacle Avoidance System
6/2009
Guided Systems completed initial flight evaluations of a vision-based obstacle avoidance system for small and micro air vehicles under the terms of contracts with both the U.S. Air Force and the Navy. The system employs a monocular video camera, image processing, and special purpose guidance laws to augment a mature autopilot solution for helicopters and presently enables autonomous flight through a sparse obstacle field. This form of obstacle avoidance system is expected to be particularly useful on UAVs too small to carry active sensors for obstacle detection. A contracted flight demonstration of the developed capability is scheduled for the 4th quarter of 2009.

Phase II SBIR Contract Awarded to Guided Systems in support of Ballistic Missile Defense
5/2009
Guided Systems has been awarded an 18 month Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract by the U.S. Missile Defense Agency to further develop and apply its adaptive guidance laws to improve intercept performance against maneuvering targets.

Dual Redundant Piccolo Architecture Successful in Initial Flight Trials
4/2009
As part of its ongoing internal research and develop efforts, Guided Systems has developed and flight tested a dual Piccolo flight configuration that allows one Piccolo to be in control of the vehicle, while the other stands by as a backup. In the event the primary Piccolo suffers a power failure or system reset for any reason, the backup Piccolo is automatically and immediately employed to control the vehicle. This is particularly useful in research programs when advanced features are being introduced to the autopilot through software modifications and flight tested at very low altitude. This capability will eventually be exploited in the development of integrated helicopter UAV solutions that feature dual redundant avionics for applications demanding very high system reliability.

Flight Operations Begin with Fixed-Wing UAV Surrogate with Dual Flight Control Systems
3/2009
In support of contracted flight test activities for a large US aerospace firm, Guided Systems has developed a low-cost surrogate UAV system that features the proven Piccolo autopilot system coupled with an auxiliary flight control computer. This system allows rapid, low-cost flight test of custom flight control laws and logic using the operating system of choice on the auxiliary computer while employing the navigation solution, pilot, actuator, and operator interface of the mature Piccolo system. The system also allows for a second dedicated uplink/downlink to the auxiliary flight computer for the purpose of conducting software validation and flight test of the alternate controller. The system is to be employed for early flight validation of newly developed control laws using a surrogate for a special purpose fixed-wing UAV now in development by the customer.

First delivery of SiCX 250 Unmanned Helicopter Contracted
1/2009
Guided Systems signed a contract for delivery of its first conversion of a Manned To Unmanned helicopter for an overseas customer. Based on the combination of a proven airframe and Guided Systems mature unmanned helicopter autopilot , the system will provide up to 250 pounds of payload with a mission endurance of several hours. Delivery is scheduled for early 2010.

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) Finishes Third Overall In The 2008 International Aerial Robotics Competition
7/2008
Guided Systems is pleased to announce that ERAU, based in Daytona Beach, FL has finished third place overall for the 2008 International Aerial Robotics Competition (IARC). The IARC is a multiyear competition, developed to challenge student teams and advance the state of the art in unmanned aerial systems. ERAU, a latecomer to the competition has joined on the final and most difficult year of the competition.

IAS Selects Guided Systems for Pitagora VTOL  UAV
6/2/2008
Guided Systems is pleased to announce that IAS (International Aviation Supply) based in Brindisi Italy has engaged Guided Systems to provide its patented Adaptive Neural Network controls technology and its engineering services to enable fully autonomous operations of their new Pitagora UAV.  Pitagora is IAS’ newest vehicle that is capable of VTOL and high-speed wing born flight. .

First flight of Integrated UAV Helicopter Testbed developed for UAV Obstacle Avoidance Research.
4/2008
Guided Systems recently completed initial flight tests of its newly developed Obstacle Avoidance Research Testbed, a low-cost unmanned helicopter system that features a tightly integrated adaptive autonomous autopilot and imaging payload

Guided Systems Awarded AF Contract to develop Micro Air Vehicle Obstacle Avoidance Capability
4/2007
Guided Systems has been awarded a Phase II SBIR contract by the United States Air Force to develop a vision-based obstacle avoidance system suitable for application on both fixed and rotary-wing micro air vehicles .

Guided Systems Awarded ONR Contract to develop Small UAV Obstacle Avoidance Capability.
3/7/2007
The Office of Naval Research has awarded Guided Systems a Phase II SBIR contract for the development of a vision-based UAV obstacle avoidance system.