By Nick Gilbert
World Surveillance Group recently declared that the Company has completed filing of provisional patent application on an Argus Hybrid aerostat/airship design.
Based on the Company's Argus One airship technology, the Argus Hybrid’s design includes an airborne surveillance and communications solution integrating aerostat’s versatility with UAV’s into a single affordable platform.
The Argus Hybrid is capable of being uniquely launched and operated as an aerostat with excellent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance ("ISR") capabilities for a long period. The propulsion unit can be started remotely, followed by releasing on the tether with the Argus Hybrid acting as an unmanned airship that can survey several miles of terrain.
With compactly-packed design, the Argus Hybrid can be loaded behind a full size truck or HUMVEE, leading to rapid and easy deployment by small crew. The Argus Hybrid has been crafted to be released on a tether, following its preparation for launch. The tether supports elevation and resting on station giving rise to consistent ISR through fiber optics assisted sensor payload streaming data. The Argus Hybrid can be rapidly and virtually be transformed to an unmanned airship by triggering the engine and releasing the tether. The Argus Hybrid and the sensor package are controlled through satellite communications and wireless capabilities, during this free flight. It can be refueled and once again launched as an aerostat, on reaching the landing destination. It then prepares for subsequent free flight.
WSGI’s Argus One UAV for government sponsored payload flight testing in Nevada will soon be completed. During the Q1 of 2012, WSGI started incorporating government-based specific payloads into its Argus One airship. During Q2 of 2012, WSGI will complete the payload flight testing of the Argus One.
Source: http://www.wsgi.com/