Case Studies

Charged with the challenge of tracking low-slung vessels over vast oceans, counter-trafficking forces often have to choose between stealth and search area.  Now thanks to Puma AE UAS, they are discovering they can have both.

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AeroVironment continues to make a positive impact in the Ventura County community through its Corporate Social Responsibility Program. In 2021, AeroVironment supported the Simi Valley Education Foundation in funding 18 STEM-related enhancement grants to advance school projects in science, technology, education and math.

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In mid-September 2021, AeroVironment participated in a major NATO-sponsored exercise called REP(MUS) 21, which stands for Robotic Experimentation and Prototyping Augmented by Maritime Unmanned Systems, 2021. The event took place at the Portuguese Navy Centre for Operational Experimentation in Troia, Portugal, and included the navies from 13 active participating nations and three observing nations. REP(MUS) 21 was jointly organized by the Portuguese Navy, the University of Porto, NATO’s Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation and the NATO Unmanned Systems Initiative. The objective was to enhance NATO members’ maritime capabilities.

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Did you know that the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter has a terrestrial sibling? It’s true — meet, Terry Earth Copter — specifically designed for research and educational purposes.
Recently, the AeroVironment Mars team embarked on an opportunity to connect with various YMCA summer camp groups in the Simi Valley, CA area as part of their STEAM program.

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Unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) have been used in military settings for over a century. In 1915, French engineers developed the “Torpille Terrestre” (Land Torpedo) — a UGV loaded with explosives meant to breach enemy lines. In the 1930s, the Soviets began using UGVs based on the T-18 and T-26 tanks and were dubbed “Teletanks.” The Teletanks were controlled remotely from another tank about a mile away and were deployed in the Winter War against Finland in 1940. The UGV had a humble beginning as little more than a single-use detonation device, but today these vehicles feature state-of-the-art capabilities that work to protect and preserve lives.

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When it comes to flying high, AeroVironment has led the way in sustained solar-powered, high-altitude flight with projects dating back more than 40 years. Building on its pioneering innovations — Gossamer Condor, Solar Challenger, Pathfinder Plus, and Helios — AeroVironment advanced these earlier technologies to develop a solar-powered, high-altitude platform station (HAPS) named Sunglider™.

“These earlier innovations made significant contributions to the current HAPS aircraft,” said Bob Curtin, HAPS business development director. “I think it’s reasonable to say that the development of today’s HAPS aircraft started with the Gossamer Condor in 1977.”

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Could a drone that is used to scout for enemy activity on the battlefield also help count endangered seals in Alaska? What about relaying communications from a remote area to an emergency response center? For the past 50 years, our innovative engineers have been asking these type of questions to provide our customers with new ways of achieving their goals. The same features and capabilities AeroVironment's unmanned aircraft systems provide to troops on the front line could address a host of missions beyond the military. 

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AeroVironment has always been powered by great thinkers and doers, constantly experimenting with new ideas that help customers do more and offering innovative firsts and never-seen-before solutions. These innovators have learned over time that being at the forefront of technology can be both daunting and rewarding, and the adoption of transformative solutions can take time, but in the end, they come to life.

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The Nano Hummingbird proved to be a first-of-its-kind innovation. The micro air vehicle was the first flapping-wing, nano unmanned air vehicle (UAV) with tai-axis control, which enabled it to hover and fly sideways, backward and forward, as well as rotate clockwise and counter clockwise and counterclockwise - all by remote control. 

Designed and developed by AeroVironment's MacCready Works Advanced Solutions team, the Nano Hummingbird was a unique project that satisfied a specific customer requirement.

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Solar technology isn't a recent discovery. Its history dates back to the seventh century B.C. when a magnifying glass was used to concentrate the sun's rays to make fire. 

Fast forward to 1839, French physicist Edmond Becquerel discovered the photovoltaic effect (generating voltage and electric current upon exposure to light) while experimenting with a cell made of metal electrodes in a conducting solution. He saw that the cell produced more electricity when it was exposed to light. Many physicists and scientists contributed to the awareness, introduction and proliferation of solar energy technology, including AeroVironment founder Dr. Paul MacCready, Jr.

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