NAL/ADE Black Kite
A joint Indian MAV technology demonstrator under the NP-MICAV program.
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The NAL/ADE Black Kite is a technology demonstrator for an unmanned Micro Air Vehicle (MAV). It was created through a joint effort by the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) of DRDO and the National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) of CSIRI, with help from private vendors. This airframe is one of several designs explored under the National Program on Micro Air Vehicles (NP-MICAV).
The Black Kite is a fixed-wing aircraft with a Modified Inverse Zimmerman planform. Its body is built from carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer and Rohacell. It is battery-powered and uses an AXi2204/54 Brushless Motor with an APC 7"x6" propeller in a tractor configuration, where the motor and propeller face forward. Flight endurance is 30 minutes.
The vehicle carries a miniature daylight video camera as its payload. From an altitude of 80 to 100 meters, it can capture video of the ground below and send the imagery to a Ground Control Station during flight. The video and telemetry range is about two kilometers.
The Black Kite is controlled remotely by radio. It also has an autopilot: if the link to the Ground Control Station is lost, the vehicle is programmed to return to base. Three versions of the Black Kite exist, and the prototypes are currently undergoing user trials.
Quick Facts
- Type
- Fixed-wing Micro Air Vehicle (MAV) technology demonstrator
- Developers
- Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) of DRDO and National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) of CSIRI
- Airframe material
- Carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer and Rohacell
- Propulsion
- Electric battery
- AXi2204/54 Brushless Motor
- APC 7"x6" propeller
- Flight endurance
- 30 minutes
- Payload
- Miniature daylight video camera
- Video/telemetry range
- About 2 km / 6,562 ft
- Operating altitude
- 80–100 m / 262–328 ft
Facts from the source article.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NAL/ADE Black Kite?
It is a fixed-wing Micro Air Vehicle technology demonstrator built in India to prove out concepts for very small unmanned aircraft. It represents one of several airframe designs investigated to push the boundaries of MAV flight.
What materials and propulsion system does the Black Kite use?
The airframe is built from carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer and Rohacell foam, and it flies on a battery driving an AXi2204/54 brushless motor with an APC 7×6 propeller mounted in a tractor configuration.
How long can the NAL/ADE Black Kite stay airborne?
The demonstrator achieves approximately 30 minutes of endurance on its electric battery, which is a notable figure for an aircraft of this micro-scale class.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: NAL/ADE Black Kite (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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