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HoverMast

Sky Sapience, an expert in autonomous hovering machine technology, announces the release of the HoverMast, tethered hovering platform specially designed for small vehicles. The HoverMast will be displayed at the upcoming AUVSI conference and exhibition in Tel-Aviv.

The HoverMast responds to the need for quick, mobile intelligence gathering. At the click of a button, the system autonomously deploys, rising to heights of up to 50 meters within 10-15 seconds. Secured by a cable, serving as a power supply and wideband data link, the highly stabilized HoverMast combines advanced flight algorithms and innovative materials to provide the highest payload-to-size ratio available today. Weighing only 10 kg, the platform is capable of hosting 9 kg payloads, such as electro-optic sensors, laser designators, radar, and sophisticated COMINT and ELINT systems. Its data link enables the transfer of critical data to selected recipients in real time.

The HoverMast is stored in a compact housing unit that can be mounted on any vehicle; small vehicles in particular: cars, pick-up trucks, unmanned ground or surface vehicles (UGV/USV), ATVs, and small naval craft; making the system especially suited for Special Forces, border and port protection, and infantry missions.

The challenge, you’re not allowed to make a SkyNet joke.

13 Responses to NEWS FROM THE FUTURE – HoverMast

rocketguy1701 on March 7th, 2012 at 4:06 pm said:

How about a new form of fly fishing joke?

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zof on March 7th, 2012 at 4:25 pm said:

But wont cable interfere with the flying pigs when the FAA finally approves commercial drone activities above 400ft? (I think that’s correct, its been a few days since that post and my memory is horrible)

Oh yea mission accomplished

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Steve DB on March 7th, 2012 at 4:53 pm said:

given that drones are and will continue to be restricted for commercial applications such as real estate photography, the fact that this is tethered may put it under a separate class. I believe you can have tethered balloons up to several hundred feet up (unless you are in the footprint of an airport).

Not only that, but since you have power and signal coming through the cable you can lift a much heavier camera and download high resolution real time video very cleanly.

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Michael Kelsey on March 7th, 2012 at 5:02 pm said:

Challenge accepted.

“I, for one, welcome our new robot overlords.”

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rahere on March 7th, 2012 at 5:05 pm said:

Why not? The saving grace is the nation they’re the main ISP for.

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rahere on March 7th, 2012 at 5:23 pm said:

You spend six days looking like a slow-moving bush, crawling on your belly to within spotting distance of the target, and then some joker asks you to fly one of thse things right over your head? Macgyver at his best.

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trkemp on March 8th, 2012 at 4:26 am said:

My first thought when I saw this was that it would be great for small TV news organizations. It would be a lot less expensive to operate than a helicopter. Then I saw it was intended for the military and I realized it would cost a lot more than a helicopter.

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- Will on March 8th, 2012 at 3:00 pm said:
  
  Or for sporting events. No AAA ball club is going to get overhead coverage from the Goodyear Blimp, but this would get similar visuals.
  
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Alan Dove on March 8th, 2012 at 8:29 am said:

Better challenge: be the first ham radio operator to copy this concept for an automatically-deploying full-quarter-wave vertical on the 160M band.

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Sean on March 9th, 2012 at 2:12 am said:

100 years from this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Observation_balloon to this. The future takes too long to get here.

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rahere on March 9th, 2012 at 12:23 pm said:

I want to know what happens when a bird attempts to use it as a perch. Presumably it will yaw and dip, but if the correction is faster than the bird resumes flight, do the feathers hit the fan?

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- Eric on March 19th, 2012 at 7:42 pm said:
  
  I wouldn’t be worried about the feathers as much. It will probably scare the ____ out of the bird. Then what hits the fan?
  
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