Drone America’s Phoebus Mk.II Unmanned Autonomous System (UAS), which was fitted with a Cineflex V14HD camera, was on display for Nevada at the Association for Unmanned Systems International (AUVSI) Unmanned Systems 2014 conference in Orlando, Florida. The company’s Phoebus was hung above the Nevada Institute of Autonomous Systems (NIAS) booth.
The Phoebus Mk.II is capable of long duration flights with it’s fully redundant twin-engines. The airframe is constructed from carbon fiber material which makes the airframe rugged and configured to protect all avionics from moisture. This in turn allows the Phoebus to operate in harsh environments and inclement weather.
Furthermore, the Phoebus can fly between 6 & 10 hours depending on engine and payload configuration. Each airframe can be customized for each payload and mission requirements
Cineflex cameras are an high-end industry standard and are used for film and video production, news and broadcast television and public safety applications.
According to Cineflex, “The Cineflex family’s V14 multi-sensor gyro-stabilized system is so lightweight, it can be mounted to the Phoebus Mk.II drone. The system offers GeoPointing, continuous zoom IR, production quality HD daylight camera and lens. The system is ideal for ISR, infrastructure, or production with IR capability.”
“High value sensors and payloads are ideally suited to the Phoebus UAS platform,” said Drone America’s President and CEO Mike Richards. “Our clients understand the value of two engines and fully redundant systems. Cineflex manufactures the very best cameras and Drone America expects to bring them safely home.”
Nevada is making a global statement as a significant player in the world of unmanned systems. Early in the year, Nevada was selected as a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) test site for unmanned systems in the United States. Local and State officials are anticipating thousands of new jobs and millions of dollars infused into the local markets.
“In my opinion, Nevada is viewed as the premier UAS Test Site in the West,” said Mike Richards. “Drone America is being commended for manufacturing drones that meet and exceed expectations, particularly in the area of safety and reliability. Twin engines, full redundancy of all systems combined with a ballistic parachute make our systems ideal for National Airspace.”
AUVSI is the world’s largest show for unmanned systems with more than 550 exhibitors from over 40 countries.
About Cineflex V14HD Camera:
The Cineflex V14HD is the ultimate gyro-stabilized solution for aerial filming. The V14 HD is a multi-axis coordinated gimbal control system that provides layered isolation, steering, and fine correctional movements to stabilize a wide selection of precision optics to a sub-pixel level. Integrated into the gimbal, the Sony HDC-1500R 1080p professional broadcast camera provides unmatched color clarity and resolution in 23.98, 25, 29.97, and 59.94 frame rates.
The V14 HD is the only gyro-stabilized camera system to enable the user to interchange lens confiurations in the field. The camera system is available with extreme long lenses that extend to an unrivaled 1760mm of focal length or extremely wide angle lenses for cinematography applications.
All gimbal and camera functions are remotely controlled from a user-friendly laptop. The camera operator can control rate of pan, tilt and roll. The integrated Sony RM-B750 “paint box” allows detailed control over exposure, gamma, and frame rates. Advanced users can access the internal camera menus for extended modifications and service.
About Cineflex:
Since its introduction, the Cineflex camera system has set a new standard in digital cinema. We integrate best-in-class cameras and lenses with our gyro-stabilized gimbal assembly to provide exceptional range-performance and unmatched stability. Our 5-axis gyro-stabilized gimbal assembly delivers the stability and precision that directors and cinematographers rely on.
Originally designed for helicopters and aerial platforms, Cineflex cameras have shown an amazing versatility and have been integrated onto cable and rail systems, cars, trucks, boats, all terrain vehicles (ATV) and even snow mobiles. The unmatched range-performance and exceptional stability of the Cineflex family of camera systems ensure accurate images and precision pointing in the air, at sea and on rough terrain.
Whether flying to the top of Mt. Everest to cruising through the Grand Canyon, Cineflex camera systems offer the rugged reliability to perform in the harshest environments and ensure directors are limited only by their imagination.
