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Further Reading

Micro Air Vehicle (MAV) ACTD

The Micro Air Vehicle (MAV) is a fully autonomous system but can be re-programmed and controlled in flight if the mission changes. Soldiers can be trained on vehicle operation in less than 24 hours and then can immediately begin to operate the vehicle for proficiency training. Unlike other unmanned aerial systems, no specialized military training is needed to operate the MAV or exploit its data and imagery. The system will provide the small unit with militarily useful real-time combat information of difficult to observe and/or distant areas or objects. The system will also be employable in a variety of warfighting environments (for example: in complex topologies such as mountainous terrain, urban areas, and confined spaces).

The primary goal of the Micro Air Vehicle (MAV) Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration (ACTD) program is to further develop and integrate MAV technologies into militarily useful and affordable backpackable systems suitable for dismounted soldier, Marine, and Special Forces missions. The ACTD will focus on the development of lift augmented ducted fan MAVs to accomplish unique military missions, particularly the hover and stare capability in restricted environments. The objective of the MAV ACTD is to demonstrate a backpackable, affordable, easy-to-operate, and responsive reconnaissance and surveillance system.The initial MAV technology development program focused on the technologies and components required to enable flight at small scales, including flight control, power and propulsion, navigation and communications.

The primary objective of the ACTD is to demonstrate a backpackable, ducted fan, Vertical Take-off and Landing (VTOL) affordable, easy-to-operate, and responsive reconnaissance and surveillance Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). The inherent capabilities of the MAV must enable it to have the ability to hover and stare, be capable of flying in urban canyons and in restrictive mountainous areas, and fulfill the need for real-time Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition (RSTA) and Battle Damage Assessment (BDA).

The MAV ACTD program is intended to get DARPA-developed small, Vertical Take - Off and Landing (VTOL) UAVs rapidly into the hands of the users for evaluation and evolution of the technologies; to develop tactics, techniques and procedures; and to provide a residual operational capability to active duty forces. The three-phase MAV ACTD conducted initial design and development from April 2002 through February 2005. The program's second phase included initial flight tests and experiments at the McKenna urban training site at Fort Benning, Ga., and concluded with the user evaluations with the 25th Infantry Division.

Micro air vehicles developed under the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's Micro Air Vehicle (MAV) Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration (ACTD) received positive reviews from 25th Infantry Division soldiers after experiments with military users in October 2005. The vehicle's ability to hover and stare in urban and complex environments, and its ease of employment showed promise for use during a variety of tactical operations. During the tests, an infantry scout platoon used the MAV to obtain reconnaissance information instead of sending out soldiers to conduct reconnaissance missions. The soldiers also used the MAV to conduct aerial reconnaissance prior to driving a convoy route, and to provide information on the location of opposing forces. The use of the MAV provided the platoon with better situational awareness, and led to less confusion during tactical operations.

During the October tests 2005, soldiers who were familiar with commercial video games found it easy to learn to operate the MAV. The MAV system consists of two air vehicles with support equipment of fuel, batteries, an observer/controller unit, remote video terminal and starter. Each vehicle weighs about 17 pounds fully fueled, was 13 inches in diameter and designed to be transported in a back pack. The vehicle operates at altitudes of 100 to 500 feet above ground level, and can provide forward and down-looking day or night video or still imagery. The vehicle will operate in a variety of weather conditions including rain and moderate winds.

During FY2006, the program improved the system based on user feedback and delivered 25 additional, improved systems to the 25th Infantry Division beginning in July 2006 for five months of user evaluations. Among other improvements, these new systems will have increased vehicle endurance, improved sensor performance, and better observer/controller units. The United States Army Aviation and Missile Command located at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama announced [Solicitation Number: W58RGZ-07-R-0288] on Dec 07, 2006 a requirement to procure on a sole source basis the continuation of a Micro Air Vehicle (MAV) Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration (ACTD).

These items are only available through Honeywell International, Inc., Defense and Space Electronic Systems, Albuquerque, NM. This phase of the MAV ACTD focuses on sustainment, testing, and continued development of the MAV, including an option for OCONUS deployment for extended evaluation of the MAV. The FCS MAV technology is planned for transition to the Army during FY 2007. By mid-2007 the first batch of MAVs was being deployed in Iraq to help infantry troops.