 |
| Mike King in ABP's new Mobile
UAV Ground Control Station during test of Border Hawk on September
11, 2003. |
 |
| Border Hawk I shadow
can be seen as it flies over three people (volunteers) near border. |
|
American Border Patrol
UAVs Near Operational Status
Palominas, Arizona (American Patrol)
-- September 11 -- In a major field test to commemorate the
second anniversary of the Al Quaida attack on the United States,
American Border Patrol, a non-profit Arizona corporation, successfully
flew its Border Hawk I unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) more than
6.2 miles from the Ground Control Station under control of the
on-board guidance system. According to ABP Technical Director,
Mike King, the UAV performed flawlessly. "We can position
this aircraft wherever we want, "King said,"and the
video quality is everything we had hoped for."
According to King, the Border Hawk was launched from a private
ranch near the San Pedro river and the Mexican border. It was
then put under control of an on-board GPS guidance system and
directed to fly along the border east toward Naco, Arizona. The
craft performed exactly as planned, holding altitude and track
along the ground, all the while sending high quality live video
to the Ground Control Station. "We operate these aircraft
with safety in mind," said King, "and that includes
taking care to stay away from homes and other structures and
other aircraft." ABP uses aviation radios to communicate
with other aircraft in the area, although none have been encountered
to date. Watch Ground
Control Station screen during last part of test....
 Dial-up || Broadband
 Attend
ABP's public meeting on September 20 |
|
| 
