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Boeing MQ-18 Hummingbird (A160)

2012 MODERN AIRCRAFT DRONE TECHNOLOGY

History

The A160 Hummingbird is a rotary-wing UAV that combines the advantages of traditional UAS and modern combat helicopters. The Hummingbird targets smaller, faster, more efficient engines and offers capabilities beyond current generation full-scale rotor systems. Additionally, as an unmanned aerial system, the Hummingbird can safely keep its flight crew out of combat and can precisely deliver a variety of payloads to troops on the front lines in need.

In addition to its cargo-carrying capabilities, the Hummingbird encourages versatility, capable of handling tasks including intelligence gathering, reconnaissance and surveillance of an enemy or battlefield (in real-time), serving as a mobile air communications relay for ground forces, and providing target acquisition when needed. Hummingbirds are also said to maintain a largely autonomous presence on the battlefield, negating much of the human-machine interaction inherent in other drones that are programmed to make "decisions" during flight to determine completion Fight the best path to find a specific destination.

The origin of the A160 lies in the Maverick UAV developed by Frontier Systems, Incorporated, which is a modified form of the Robinson R22 two-seater civilian helicopter and the predecessor of the A160 UAV. Maverick achieved its first unmanned flight in 1998, just a year after the program officially launched. The in-house system developed for the Maverick drone was later used in the upcoming A160. The Mavericks were subsequently acquired by the U.S. military, with at least four serving (or possibly still serving) in the U.S.

Navy, unidentified.

The first flight of the A160 was recorded in January 2002, with early examples featuring automotive-style, gasoline-powered 4- and 6-cylinder engines connected to three-blade rotor assemblies. In 2003, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) awarded Frontier Systems a $75 million contract to build and test up to four A160 prototypes.

However, Boeing acquired Frontier Systems in 2004 and actually added the Hummingbird to its burgeoning line of drones. The Hummingbird was once in service under the Boeing Phantom Works banner and was later part of Boeing Advanced Systems, a component of Boeing's Integrated Defense System.

The redesigned and improved A160T ("T" refers to its new turbine engine) began flight testing in June 2007 and made the world of this heavyweight drone in 2008 with a total flight time of 18.7 hours Endurance records. On September 27, 2007, an A160T prototype was lost in a crash when sensor readings from the flight computer became unresponsive.

In March 2010, Hummingbird completed an assessment of the U.S. Marine Corps' cargo-carrying capabilities, conducting two 150-nautical-mile flights between two mock Forward Operating Bases (FOBs), carrying approximately 2,500 pounds.

What makes this test completely unique is that the hummingbird operates through its pre-programmed task settings and is more or less fully autonomous. On July 28, 2010, another A160T prototype crashed after losing control. In August 2010, a pair of Hummingbirds equipped with the new Forrester radar system were flown-tested in Belize.

The radar, which is also in development, has been tested for its ability to scan dense foliage. However, these flight tests resulted in another crash of the A160T, resulting in the premature conclusion of the tropical assessment.

Despite the setback, the Boeing plant in Mesa, Arizona is said to have started production as early as March 2010. The official name for the US military will be "YMQ-18A" and the powerplant will be a Pratt & Whitney PW207D turboshaft engine.

Externally, the Hummingbird looks identical to a traditional manned helicopter, thanks to its Robinson R22 helicopter/Maverick UAV origins largely unchanged. The fuselage is smooth, the front is sharply tapered to form a nose cone, and the rear is elegantly streamlined to form the fuselage body and tail structure. The four-blade main rotor is close to the fuselage, slightly forward of the center of the fuselage. The landing gear consists of two retractable main landing gear legs midship (retractable aft) and a non-retractable stern wheel in the stern.

The powerplant and gearbox are located in the center of the fuselage, the former being drawn in through a pair of side-mounted air intakes. The twin-blade tail rotor is at the rear of the aircraft, pointing to port. The vertical tail is located under the tail structure and holds the tail wheel. Payloads can be carried directly under the fuselage between the main landing gear legs. The Hummingbird has a structure length of 35 feet and a main rotor diameter of 36 feet.

Her maximum takeoff weight is listed as 6,500 pounds. The maximum cruise ceiling is expected to be 30,000 feet, although the UAV's engine is rated at 20,000 feet in its current configuration. Maximum cruising speed is 189 mph and range is 2,589 miles. The flight altitude is 20,000 feet.

Boeing claims their Hummingbird can surpass the capabilities of most modern helicopters on the battlefield today. UAVs exceed the operational upper limits (approximately 10,000 feet) and dwell times (24+ hours) exhibited by modern rotor systems.

The hummingbird's noise level has also been concerned, making it less audible than its larger traditional siblings. One of the Hummingbird's unique features is its adaptive rotor speed technology, which allows the operator to respond to changing altitude conditions "on the fly." The rotor's RPM can be adjusted to provide the optimum spin (smaller or larger) based on external conditions, saving fuel and maximizing the time the hummingbird can spend in the air.

Boeing aptly named this feature the Optimum Speed ??Rotor (OSR) system.

Much like a traditional helicopter, the Hummingbird can take off and land without a runway, and unlike other drones, it doesnt require a catapult launch or recovery system. This characteristic makes them a positive addition to any mobile force operating on dynamic fronts, especially groups isolated from traditional battlefield resources.

Precise control also assures commanders that Hummingbirds can supply soldiers in virtually any battlefield environment, including mountainous and urban environments. Hummingbirds have also attracted interest in the use of naval ships that require an active, high-altitude, long "eye in the sky."

At the time of writing (2012), Hummingbird is still in active development near Victorville, CA. The U.S. Army (U.S. Army Aviation Applied Technology Council), U.S. Navy (Naval Air Systems Command), U.S. Special Forces, U.S.

Department of Homeland Security, and several foreign organizations have all expressed concern about the new revolutionary rotary-wing unmanned aerial system shown by Boeing interested.

In December 2010, the U.S. Department of Defense (Naval Air Systems Command) formally awarded Frontier Systems, Incorporated a $30 million ($29,935,037) contract to procure two Hummingbirds to support U.S. operations in Afghanistan known military operations.

Delivery is expected sometime after August 2011.

In March 2011, the U.S. Department of Defense (Army) officially announced a $14 million ($13,999,000) contract with Frontier Systems, Incorporated to procure two upgrade packages for the known YMQ-18A prototype. This places both units in a "Block II" configuration.

In mid-2012, Hummingbird products were intercepted by U.S. Army authorities. In December 2012, a review of the program excluded the A160 from the Army's long-term plans.