Background: AeroVironment began development of the Black Widow, the most advanced example of the new class of micro air vehicles, in Apr 96. Later that year, DARPA initiated a 4-year, $35 million program to demonstrate affordable, tactically useful micro air vehicles, funding AeroVironment's effort, among others, as a $100K SBIR, followed by a $750K SBIR award in 1998. The disk-shaped Black Widow has demonstrated 16 min of flight at speeds up to 43 mph.
Characteristics:
| Length, ft | 0.5 | Wing Span, ft | 0.5 (disk planform) |
| Gross Weight, lbs | 0.093 (42 g) | Payload Weight, lbs | (2.2 g) |
| Fuel Capacity, lbs | (26 g) | Fuel Type | 2x Li batteries |
| Engine Make | Electric motor | Power, hp | (8 watts) |
| Structure | Styrofoam and balsa wood | ||
| Guidance | Navigation | GPS | |
| Data Link(s) | UHF | Data Rate(s) | |
| Endurance, hrs | 0.27 (16 min) | Radius, nm | 0.54 (1 km) |
| Max Speed, kts | 35 | Stall Speed, kts | |
| Altitude, ft | |||
| Takeoff Means | Catapult | ||
| Navigation | Preprogrammed
(points)/ autonomous/direct control |
||
| Landing Means | Belly | ||
Sensor(s): B&W, 300x240 pixel video camera (proposed)