NEWS 2004

Unmanned Aviation Log - 2004

Although not aircraft, the landings and explorations of Spirit and Opportunity, two unmanned ground vehicles, on opposite sides of Mars by NASA/JPL have to rank as the major robotics accomplishment of 2004. Planned for 90-day lifetimes, the two robots are still going at year's end, nearly a year after their "bounce-downs" on January 3rd and 24th , respectively. These robo-geologists have provided conclusive evidence that Mars once had (and may still have) surface water.

Another noteworthy UGV accomplishment was the first Grand Challenge competition, sponsored by DARPA, with 15 UGVs competing for a $1 million prize to be the first completely autonomous vehicle to navigate a 142-mile course through the Mojave Desert in 10 hours or less. The farthest one only traversed 7 miles in the March 13th event. A second Grand Challenge is scheduled for 8 Oct 2005.

Mar 24: The Boeing X-45A drops its first weapon, an inert, unguided 250-lb bomb, at Edwards AFB, CA, from 35,000 ft at Mach 0.67. SAR imagery of the target was returned prior to release.

Mar 27: The second of three ATK GASL X-43As flys at Mach 7 for 8 seconds at 100,000 ft powered by its hydrogen-fueled scamjet after being launched by a Pegasus booster dropped from the NASA B-52B at 40,000 ft.

Apr 18: The Boeing X-45A drops its first guided weapon, an inert, GPS-guided 250-lb bomb, at China lake NAS, CA, from 35,000 ft at Mach 0.67.

May: The Boeing Co. acquires Frontier Systems Inc. of Irvine, CA, maker of the A160 and Maverick UAVs.

Jun 17: The UAV National Task Force (UNTF) of the Department of Transportation's Joint Program Development Office (JPDO) formally meets for the first time. Its charter is to define the impact of UAVs on the National Airspace System in the next 25 to 50 years and in doing so, help structure the future NAS to accommodate UAVs.

Jun 18: The Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection division begins patrolling the Arizona-Mexico border at night with an Elbit Hermes 450 UAV as part of the Arizona Border Control Initiative (ABCI). By their last flight on 28 Sep, the Hermes 450 team will log 590 hours during 65 sorties and help apprehend 965 illegal aliens, confiscate 810 lb of marijuana, and recover 2 stolen cars. Its performance encourages DHS to resume UAV flights along the border in November with Northrop Grumman RQ-5A Hunter UAVs.

Aug 1: Two Boeing X-43As perform a 40-min formation flight at Edwards AFB, CA, separated by 2 miles laterally and 1000 ft in altitude. Both fly formation on a third, virtual aircraft serving as flight lead, all under the control of one person.

Sep: Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. acquires Schweitzer Aircraft Corp. of Elmira, NY, maker of the FireScout UAV, various gliders and small helicopters.

Oct: The General Atomics ASI MQ-1 Predator fleet reaches a total of 100,000 hours of flight time, a first for a U.S. UAV model. During that time, 19 Predators have had class A mishaps.

Nov 16: The third of three ATK GASL X-43As flies at Mach 9.8 for 12 seconds at 110,000 ft powered by its hydrogen-fueled scramjet after being launched by a Pegasus booster dropped from the NASA B-52B at 40,000 ft.

Dec: L-3 Comm acquires BAI Aerosystems Inc. of Easton, MD, maker of the Exdrone, Dragon Drone, Tern, Porter, Javelin, FOG, and Evolution UAVs, as well as UAV autopilots, EO/IR sensors, and launchers.