Schiebel Aircraft and Areté Associates successfully showcased the Camcopter S-100 Unmanned Air System (UAS) combined with Areté’s Pushbroom Imaging Lidar for Littoral Surveillance (PILLS) sensor to the US Navy’s Office of Naval Research (ONR).
In a combined demonstration sponsored by the ONR on a commercial vessel off the coast of Pensacola, Florida, Schiebel and Areté demonstrated the Camcopter S-100 and its capabilities, as well as Areté’s Push- broom Imaging Lidar for Littoral Surveillance (PILLS) system.
PILLS enables hydrographic mapping of ocean littoral spaces with a low size, weight, and power (SWaP) sensor.
“We are proud that we could successfully showcase the outstanding capabilities and data-gathering features of our Camcopter S-100 to the US Navy. Globally, we operate extensively on land and at sea and we are confident that our unmanned solution is also the right fit for the US Navy," Hans Georg Schiebel, Chairman of the Schiebel Group, said.
The Royal Australian Navy recently awarded Schiebel with a three-year extension contract for the sustainment of its Camcopter S-100. The extension allows the RAN to continue to experiment and develop knowledge using the S-100.
The RAN currently operates several Schiebel systems at 822X Squadron, Nowra.