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DetlefK

(16,423 posts)
Fri Apr 26, 2013, 09:04 AM Apr 2013

European company converts civilian helicopter into drone

http://www.eurocopter.com/site/en/press/Eurocopter-validates-its-optionally-piloted-helicopter-capabilities-with-successful-unmanned-EC145-demonstration-flights-at-Istres-France_1038.html?iframe=true&width=700

The company Eurocopter has developed an "Optionally Piloted Vehicle"-technology (OPV), that can convert a helicopter into a drone that can be piloted by either a pilot on bord, by remote-control or by software, easily changeable at the flick of a switch. The OPV-technology itself is contained within a washing-machine-sized box of 70kg weight.

The top-secret project was code-named "A-Flight" and was presented at a french air-force-base: The modified helicopter started, flew, unloaded freight by sling and landed. All this with a combination of autopilot and remote-control.

The OPV-technology is compatible with all helicopters developed by Eurocopter, including their "Tiger"-attack-helicopters.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurocopter_Tiger
The head of the R&D-division of Eurocopter said that there's in principle no technical obstacle to remote-controlling a Tiger, including its weapon-systems, although they aren't that far right now.



(I also included info from another article.)
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