Robot helicopter flies low

A great new leap in flight technology was revealed on the 10th of November 2008 when American engineers at the Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh displayed their uncrewed aerial vehicle (U.A.V.s).
It’s the first of the possibly many non-manned aircraft designed to help pilots fly through dangerous urban areas or assist in search and rescue operations after natural disasters.
The helicopter uses custom-built 3D laser scanner which creates an oval path for the aircraft to follow. The scanner is powerful enough to pick up power lines from 150 metres away. When the scanner picks up an obstacle it alters the already planned flight route and creates a detour to avoid the obstacle.
The helicopter was test in a fake urban environment in Fort Benning, Georgia. There were numerous buildings and wires only 6mm thick. After 700 missions the engineers were able to fly the U.A.V at a speed of 36km/hour at an altitude of 5 to 11metres.
Eventually they would like to equip a full sized helicopter with this technology as robotic air ambulance or to retrieve injured soldiers from battle.

Autor: Jack King
Fonte: New Scientist