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Small UAV concept developed by Convair from the Model 49 Project. In this photograph, the control vanes are clearly visible below the rotors. John Aldaz Small UAV concept developed by Convair from the Model 49 Project. In this photograph, the control vanes are clearly visible below the rotors. John Aldaz Convair LALO/PEEK Convair used the Model 49 design to produce studies for two smaller UAVs, intended for battlefield surveillance and naval ASW oper- ations. The Convair LALO (Low Altitude Observation System) was devised for the US Army Electronics Command and the study was completed in 1965. LALO would have carried a compact TV camera, which would primarily be used for target designation. LALO’s dimensions were; length 8ft 2%in (2.53m), diameter 5ft 9in (1.75m) and it con- tained 4ft 6in (1.37m) rotors. The empty weight of this vehicle was 263 Ib (119kg) and it carried a 75lb (34.0kg) payload and 501b (22.6kg) of fuel. The vehicle would have been powered by a McCulloch two-stroke, six- cylinder reciprocating engine that produced 158hp (117kW). LALO was expected to have a maximum speed of 138mph (222km/h), a ceiling of 10,000ft (3,048m), a maximum range of 25 miles (40km) and an endurance of one hour. The UAV could be handled by two men and transported by a suitable Army ground vehicle. A derivative of LALO was the Convair PEEK NAVY ground vehicle. A derivative of LALO was the Convair PEEK (Periodically Elevated Electronic Kibitzer) that was intended to take a brief look at pos- sible targets and then duck out of sight. A slightly larger version was studied for ship- board use in an anti-submarine warfare role. It may have been armed with a torpedo, but little is known about this particular concept and none of these UAV studies progressed to onboard computer capable of varying degrees of autonomous behaviour such as auto take-off, auto landing, hover hold and auto return home. Cypher could navigate pre- cisely in any chosen area by means of the onboard Global Positioning System (GPS). (Periodically Elevated Electronic Kibitzer) cle’s housing also reduced noise while the that was intended to take a brief look at pos- rigid (as opposed to articulated) counter- sible targets and then duck out of sight. A _ rotating rotors avoided torque problems; in slightly larger version was studied for ship- addition collective and cyclic pitch provided board use in an anti-submarine warfare role. _ control for lift-off, hover and level flight. It may have been armed with a torpedo, but A scale-sized_ proof-of-concept model little is known about this particular concept called the Cypher was built and tested in and none of these UAV studies progressed to mid-1988. It had a diameter of 5ft 9in (1.75m), prototyping. a height of 1ft 9%4in (0.55m) and a weight of 44 lb (19.6kg). The propulsion system was dri- Sikorsky Cypher ven by a small 3.8hp (2.8kW) four-stroke In 1987 the Sikorsky Aircraft Corp (who area __ engine, although this level of power proved division of United Technologies Corp) started totally inadequate for the trials. However, the development of an UAV that was initially enough data was gathered to determine the known as ‘The Flying Doughnut’. The chief — viability of the concept and a decision was designer behind this project was James P _ taken to build a full-sized Cypher vehicle with Cycon, who was assisted by Ken Rosen and a more suitable engine. Andrew Whyte. Their brief was to build a The second Cypher prototype was 6ft 24in small and easily transportable drone, primar- _(1.89m) in diameter, had a weight of 242 Ib ily for military use, which would have a full (110kg) and was powered by a compact 53hp VTOL performance together with adequate (39.5kW) Wankel rotary engine. Testing endurance. Using a toroidal flying saucer beganin 1993. The shroud was manufactured shape, this small aircraft was powered by from composites and Cypher could carry centrally ducted four-bladed coaxial rotors equipment payloads of 401b (18.1kg) that that were based on a Sikorsky design dating could be tailored to specific missions. With back to the early 1970s. A key requirement of _ foldable landing legs the aim was to make the this UAV was the enclosure of the rotors to UAV easy to handle by a small support team make the machine safer to handle and easier and readily transportable. Cypher used a fly- to fly thorough constricted areas, such as by-wire system, integrated avionics and a gaps between trees or buildings. The vehi- supposedly unjammable data link, plus an prototyping. amore suitable engine. The second Cypher prototype was 6ft 24in (1.89m) in diameter, had a weight of 242 lb (110kg) and was powered by a compact 53hp (39.5kW) Wankel rotary engine. Testing began in 1993. The shroud was manufactured from composites and Cypher could carry equipment payloads of 40Ib (18.1kg) that could be tailored to specific missions. With foldable landing legs the aim was to make the UAV easy to handle by a small support team and readily transportable. Cypher used a fly- by-wire system, integrated avionics and a supposedly unjammable data link, plus an Fans and Ducts 151 Drawing showing early layout proposal for Sikorsky Cypher UAV. Sikorsky Aircraft Company