Operation
Maveric is capable of fully autonomous operation from launch to landing. It can also be flown manually by a novice human pilot via a simple joystick under autopilot assistance. Maveric does not need a human pilot to fly it, only an operator to define mission parameters (e.g., waypoints, orbit positions, landing point, etc) within easy to use map-based planning software. When an operator wants to deploy Maveric, he / she merely (1) pulls it from the tube, (2) powers it on, (3) checks sensors, and (4) throws to launch. This allows Maveric to be deployed at a moments notice. And it can be launched and flown from a laying down position.
With Maveric, recovery is easy. Its landing location is an operator defined GPS location. When under manual joystick control a button can be pressed to initiate a deep-stall landing. If the mission changes mid-flight, waypoint dragging-and-dropping allows Maveric to quickly accept new instructions. Fail-safes ensure safe retrieval in the case of lost communication, lost GPS signal, or low battery.
Maveric was designed specifically for operation by a single user in a military, tactical setting. To accomplish this goal, the airframe had to be small and light enough (2 lbs) for a single user to transport, but required large enough wings (28 inches) to support the weight of the batteries, cameras, and electronics sufficient for up to one hour of flight-time. Typical UAS in the same class rely on large, removable wings, which require additional storage, and also some amount of assembly and disassembly time during a mission.
To overcome these issues of portability and assembly time Maveric employs a bendable-wing design, based on advanced composite materials. This design allows for Maveric’s wings, which are large enough to meet the desired operational requirements to collapse and wrap around its fuselage and be placed in a six inch diameter tube, while remaining in a fully assembled state. This has two advantages. It allows the aircraft to be stored in a much smaller space, and it makes the aircraft capable of immediate launch on removal from storage. Furthermore, due to the strength and durability of these advanced materials, Maveric is able to fly and complete more missions with minimal downtime.
While the bendable-wing has obvious advantages while Maveric is still on the ground, it demonstrates additional benefits while in flight. Small UAS perform at flight speeds and weights making them susceptible to sustained and gusting winds. This is especially problematic when winds exceed the flight speed capabilities of the UAS. The flexible surface of the Maveric’s bendable-wings provides a dampening mechanism, called “adaptive washout” that reduces the effect of wind gusts, and smoothes overall flight performance. This can increase flight stability and result in improved control and video stabilization.
Beyond increased flight stability; the Maveric’s bendable-wings provide a degree of biological camouflage. The fuselage and wing are constructed of rugged, ultra-light, black carbon fiber. Furthermore, the wing utilizes batons and rip-stop fabric. These portions of the wing resemble extended, feathered bird wings. From beyond 100 meters, Maveric™’s electric motor is silent. Thus, while in flight the Maveric appears very much like a bird.
Missions
- Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Tracking (ISRT2)
- Persistent ISR
- Day / Night Operations
- Minimal Visible or Audible Signatures
- Cluttered Environment
USSOCOM Support
- Counter proliferation of WMDs
- Special Reconnaissance
- Counterterrorism
- Direct Action
- Unconventional Warfare
- Information Operations
Modes
- Navigation
Autonomous waypoint following, loiter, orbits (unlimited waypoints). - Altitude
Autonomous altitude hold, manual (via joystick) heading control. - Loiter
Circle a configured loiter waypoint. - Rally
Go to configurable rally point and loiter. - Home
Go to home point. - Takeoff
Autonomous takeoff (hand launched). - Land
Autonomous landing (including deep-stall). - Manual
Manual (via joystick) control of altitude, heading, and throttle.
Failsafes
- Loss of Communication
- Loss of GPS
- Low-power
