OREM, Utah, May 4, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Disaster relief
missions require a rapid and safe response under harsh conditions.
When roads are unavailable, and infrastructure is unstable,
unmanned systems can provide valuable damage assessment
intelligence without putting further strain on the limited ground
and aviation assets available to the response effort. Following the
devastation of Cyclone Pam, the Vanuatu Government and the World
Bank contacted Australian operator Heliwest, who deployed Lockheed
Martin's (NYSE: LMT) Indago small unmanned aerial system (UAS) to
conduct a rapid damage assessment. The Indago collected imagery of
the damage over a two week mission and provided the data to
operators, without risking a life.
"Cyclone Pam caused a huge amount of damage and devastation
across Vanuatu," said Michael Bonte-Grapentin, senior disaster risk
management specialist for the World Bank Group. "To be able to
direct support where it's needed most, the Government of
Vanuatu, with input from the World
Bank and other partners, is developing a post disaster needs
assessment. The rapid damage assessments provided by Heliwest
offered much-needed information about areas that were damaged by
Cyclone Pam, often where ground access is limited and challenging.
These images will help inform the Government of Vanuatu in progressing their disaster response
activities."
Indago provides operators with an immediate eye-in-the-sky that
is capable of providing 360-degree surveillance of an area.
Weighing only five pounds, the Indago has an endurance of more than
45 minutes at a range up to 3 miles (5 km) when using its handheld
controller. It does not require large bulky cases or specialized
transport; rather, it is simply carried in a single backpack with
everything required to operate the system.
"In the wake of Cyclone Pam, the Indago was able to navigate
through the destruction and provide an accurate picture of damaged
property and assets," said Jay
McConville, director of business development for Unmanned
Integrated Solutions at Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and
Training. "The Indago can work day and night to augment disaster
relief efforts and humanitarian aid missions to help save lives and
begin the recovery process."
"The Indago proved to be the ideal platform for the mission
because of its flexibility and small logistics footprint," said
Luke Aspinall, manager of special
operations for Heliwest. "Heliwest operators were able to deploy a
full system by commercial flight with no further support required,
while on the ground the Indago allowed us to remain independent and
mobile. Our crew were able to get to where we were needed quickly,
deploying by a number of methods during the mission including
police patrol boats, zodiacs, quadbikes, cars, four-wheel drives,
regional flights and light helicopters."
Once deployed, the Indago provided Heliwest operators the
capability of several different systems in one package, said
Aspinall. Operators could field a mapping capability with similar
coverage of a larger fixed wing system due to the Indago's
endurance and weather tolerances – without the requirement for
large clear areas for launch and recovery.
"With the simple change of a payload, we could provide a stable,
high resolution video and oblique imaging with a vertical takeoff
and lift capability all in the one package," said Aspinall.
"Pairing a true multirole UAS rugged enough to operate in almost
all weather with an experienced and professional aviation solutions
provider was the ideal solution to a challenging environment like
Vanuatu."
Headquartered in Bethesda,
Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace
company that employs about 112,000 people worldwide and is
principally engaged in the research, design, development,
manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology
systems, products and services. The Corporation's net sales for
2014 were $45.6 billion.
For additional information, visit our
website: www.lockheedmartin.com/auvsi
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SOURCE Lockheed Martin