AFTER successfully launching the first underwater
unmanned vehicle, research and development firm Roboteknik is developing the co
untry's first commercially available unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), which can b
e used for industrial and military purposes.
The Custos (Latin for guardian) is a remote controlled aircraft almost two mete
rs in length and is similar to some UAVs used in the US, particularly the RQ se
ries made by AAI Corporation and Israel Aircraft Industries.
The Custos is only about 1.5 meters in length and is powered by a single electr
ic jet propulsion engine. The UAV can be outfitted with high resolution close c
ircuit television camera for still and video shots, a global positioning system
receiver, infrared sensors, among others.
The Custos can fly for two hours at a maximum height of 5,000 feet.
It can fly within a 10-kilometer range and can be controlled from the ground th
rough a mobile command station.
The Custos won third prize in last year's Department of Science and Technology
âs National Inventors Week Awards.
Roboteknik President Michael Poblete said that the company is building an upgra
ded version of the original Custos.
He said it would be ready by February 2009.
Poblete declined to reveal details of the upgraded version but said it would be
for an "immediate client."
The new UAV, however, will also be used by the military, local government units
, law enforcement and agriculture.
Poblete said the first UAV model would cost around P90,000 though it might not
be used commercially for some time.
The price of the upgraded version is yet to be announced.
Filipinos build unmanned aerial vehicle
AFTER successfully launching the first underwater
unmanned vehicle, research and development firm Roboteknik is developing the co
untry's first commercially available unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), which can b
e used for industrial and military purposes.
The Custos (Latin for guardian) is a remote controlled aircraft almost two mete
rs in length and is similar to some UAVs used in the US, particularly the RQ se
ries made by AAI Corporation and Israel Aircraft Industries.
The Custos is only about 1.5 meters in length and is powered by a single electr
ic jet propulsion engine. The UAV can be outfitted with high resolution close c
ircuit television camera for still and video shots, a global positioning system
receiver, infrared sensors, among others.
The Custos can fly for two hours at a maximum height of 5,000 feet.
It can fly within a 10-kilometer range and can be controlled from the ground th
rough a mobile command station.
The Custos won third prize in last year's Department of Science and Technology
âs National Inventors Week Awards.
Roboteknik President Michael Poblete said that the company is building an upgra
ded version of the original Custos.
He said it would be ready by February 2009.
Poblete declined to reveal details of the upgraded version but said it would be
for an "immediate client."
The new UAV, however, will also be used by the military, local government units
, law enforcement and agriculture.
Poblete said the first UAV model would cost around P90,000 though it might not
be used commercially for some time.
The price of the upgraded version is yet to be announced.
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At last our country has access to uav's which are useful for both military and
rescue purposes.
UAV=remote controlled hobby plane
Congratulations! to Roboteknik President Michael Poblete and his team. Keep up
the good work.
Ang galing talaga!
Mapua Institute of Engineering made it to the headlines with Roboteknik's Custos which is a low cost, remotely operated and camera-equipped aircraft. I read that the aircraft have very high resolution images of the ground. Whether it is sophisticated or not its good to know that at least we'll stop relying too much on the foreign technologies when it comes to use of airborne surveillance for both civilian and military reasons. The foreign-made unmanned aerial vehicle systems are very expensive and I'm sure the maintenance will not be cheaper either so, in such a case if we can invent something local and cost efficient there is a hope of sustainable development.
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