Page 290 - Robots Androids and Animatrons : 12 Incredible Projects You Can Build

Aerobots 14

AEROBOTS (AERIAL ROBOTS) ARE A CLASS OF ROBOTS THAT
can fly. They include lighter-than-air aircraft (blimps), helicopters,
and airplanes. Some applications for aerobotics are autonomous
flight, drones, warfare, surveillance, advertising, and telepresence.

Autonomous aircraft have a long history, the first ones being built
in the early 1920s. One unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) code-
named the “bug” was designed for warfare. The bug was about 12 269
feet (ft) long with a wingspan of 15 ft. Its sophisticated flight con-
trol system (for its time) included a gyroscope, an altimeter, and
electric and pneumatic controls. The flight control system flew the
craft 30 to 40 miles into enemy territory. When the desired dis-
tance was reached, the craft would jettison its wings, forcing the
nose-heavy fuselage to fall to Earth carrying a payload of 200
pounds (lb) of explosives. But World War I ended before the bug
could see any action.
From this beginning UAVs have been under continual development
and refinement. The latest UAVs saw action in the Persian Gulf war.
Although the UAVs received little to no press, they flew over 300
sorties. They performed reconnaissance and damage assessment
and followed enemy weapons deployment. The most recognized and
most sophisticated autonomous aircraft is epitomized by the self-
guided cruise missile carrying nuclear warheads.
Telepresence flight control systems also have a long history, but
not as long as that of UAVs. In World War II, the United States used
remotely piloted aircraft to fly kamikaze missions. The old-style
remote control systems have nowhere near the technical sophisti-
cation of today’s systems. The old remote control systems were

Team LRN Aerobots

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