News

Blue Bear on BBC Countryfile

Following on from the successful Cybermoor trials earlier in the year, Blue Bear UAS technology will now be featured in an episode of BBC Countryfile. Blue Bear supplied a Blackstart UAS system for filming up in Cumbria. Helen Skelton will be presenting the section of the show which will be on aired on BBC national television on Sunday 02/10/2011 at 19:00. Click this link for more details.

Blue Bear Launches new iSTART UAS

Blue Bear successfully launched their new small tactical UAS at DSEi to a very positive reception. The iSTART system is designed to be: Highly portable The iSTART system is designed to be highly portable with all the airframe, ground control station and associated equipment fitting into a single back pack. This allows the entire system to be carried by one person into a remote location or easily fitting into the boot of a car, land rover, or on a load rack on a quad bike.

Easy operation The simple point and click operation provides for a fully automated end to end flight with no requirement for the operator to manually fly the aircraft. The operator chooses the flight location and area to survey, sets the way points or loiter locations on the ground control station, and also specifies a landing location. The airframe is then hand launched and the entire flight is then automated, including the landing. Easy maintenance

The iSTART system is designed to be rugged and virtually maintenance free. The system is modular and any damage to wings, payloads or batteries can be easily and quickly swapped out with the hot swappable modular approach. Given the small size and weight of the system it can also be easily sent back to base for any service or repairs as well. The modular nature of iSTART also ensures that as camera, sensor, and battery technology advances, the system can easily be updated to use the latest technology and no go out of date. Real time video The iSTART system will stream back a real time EO or IR video feed to a ground control station. Further remote viewing terminals can be added for extended dissemination such as laptops or a PDA type devices. This provides enhanced situational awareness for a single or multiple operators.

Further links for iSTART related articles:

Blue Bear at RPAS 2011 UAV Symposium

Blue Bear will be exhibiting and co presenting with Cassidian at the RPAS 2011 UAV Symposium on the 08th September. The location will be in the Defence Capability Centre (DCC) at Shrivenham. Blue Bear will be exhibiting a range of UAS technology and welcomes visitors to their stand. Click this link for UAV Symposium web page.

Visit Blue Bear at DSEi

Blue Bear will be exhibiting at DSEi in Septemeber (13th to 16th) 2011. The location for DSEi will be at Excel in London's Docklands area. Come and visit us on stand N3-481 and visit our static display area SD-8 opposite the unmanned systems theatre. Click this link for DSEi web page.

Blue Bear wins "Flying Shepherd" project

Blue Bear recently won and delivered the Cybermoor "Flying Shepherd" project. The aim of the project was to look at the use of unmanned air systems for monitoring livestock in remote

areas. The successful project culminated in a group of local farmers, search and rescue personnel, local stake holders and national press gathering on Alston Moor for a demonstration of both fixed wing and rotor craft systems. Blue Bear demonstrated how different types of platforms could be used to monitor livestock, search for missing persons and perform survey duties. BBC News Coverage Cybermoor link

Small UAS Sub-Committee of AS NTC

Blue Bear is a key part of the Small UAS Sub-Committee. The Small UAS Sub-Committee is a sub-group of the Autonomous Systems NTC representing and addressing the specific issues relating to the operation of smaller UAS (Unmanned Air Systems). For more information please see the following news article on the ASTRAEA web site: http://astraea .aero/news-2/small-uas-sub-committee-of-.html

Counter Terror Expo 2011

Blue Bear will be exhibiting at the Counter Terror Expo held at Olympia in London on the 19th & 20th April 2011. Blue Bear will be showcasing it’s small tactical rapidly deployed UAS technology along with examples of it’s Live Virtual & Constructive (LVC) modelling, simulation and planning capabilities for the CT sector.

Blue Bear's SNAP Autopilot Supports First Flight of £6million BAe Flapless Aircraft

Blue Bear engineers supplied a SNAP autopilot system in support of the BAe systems DEMON flight trials. The £6million aircraft, a collaboration between universities and industry, uses small jets of air to manipulate the flow over the aircraft to manoeuvre instead of conventional hinged control surfaces. Such an unconventional flight control system demanded an autopilot with flexibility and power and the SNAP autopilot provided that capability. Developers believe that the removal of hinged surfaces may lower aircraft through life costs and may even reduce the ability of radar to detect the aircraft. Watch a video of the aircraft.

Blue Bear Contracted as Pivotal Team Member for the Northrop Grumman Hybrid Airship Development

Blue Bear Systems Research (BBSR), has been selected as a key member of the Northrop Grumman/Hybrid Air Vehicles team to develop a hybrid airship to assist allied forces in Afghanistan. The work comes as part of an unprecedented US Department of Defence contract to develop a Long Endurance Multi-intelligence Vehicle (LEMV). Read More on LEMV and Hybrid Air Vehicles The LEMV will carry state of the art sensors to gather intelligence and provide a persistent "eye-in-the-sky” over Afghanistan’s most dangerous territories. The aircraft, a ‘hybrid airship’, produces lift form buoyancy like an airship, and from forward flight like an aeroplane. This unique configuration enables intelligence gathering missions of up to 3-weeks at 20,000ft. The LEMV is set for in theatre operational trials within only 18 months. The rapid development of such an unusual aircraft requires a novel approach to automatic flight control and systems integration. Blue Bear Systems were selected for the role based on a proven ability to innovate and rapidly provide effective solutions for demanding aerospace projects. Under contract to Hybrid Air Vehicles BBSR will deliver:

Critical vehicle management and flight control algorithms
Flight demonstrator trials to de-risk full-scale development
Aircraft modelling and flight simulation
Essential systems integration support

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Blue Bear Invited to demonstrate Blackstart UAV system to Staff at the RAF's Air Warfare Centre

Blue Bear provided a successful demonstration of the Blackstart unmanned system to Major Martin Melia and his team at the RAF’s Air Warfare Centre. Major Melia had requested a demonstration of BB's Blackstart UAV for operational evaluation. It is hoped that the Blackstart system can be used to assist allied troops and help to save lives in the future. The trial demonstrated the system benefits and showcased for the first time the latest technologies being developed for this and other platforms. The operational benefits of the system were clearly demonstrated, and the aircraft was on task providing critical scenario feedback within minutes.