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!

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.