The American giant Honeywell is developing a new Miniature Air Vehicle (MAV) for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The new drone has vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) capabilities which allows it to operate virtually anywhere, even in semi confined spaces.
The MAV is equipped with day/night (IR) cameras, sensors, GPS and is small enough to fit into a soldier’s backpack (weights less than 40lbs). Its primary objective is to provide what is known as situational awareness to operating ground forces within a maximum range of about 10km. The MAV can stay in the air for about 40 minutes, has a climb rate of about 25 feet/second and a maximum airspeed of 50 knot (57 mph). The MAV can even operate when there is rain, dust and sand as well as wind up to about 20 knot (23 mph).
Read more: The Future of Things (TFOT)
That looks fun as hell just to play with.
Maybe pull a few jokes on people with the spy camera.
I wonder what the cost is and when it be available.