004Prox DynamicsUS Special Forces are testing a tiny drone that can fit into the palm of your hand and could change warfare forever, but despite looking like a toy and only weighing 18 grams this miniature drone comes with a big price tag - $40,000 to be precise.The tiny drone is called the PD-100 Black Hornet 2 and can fly up to 25 minutes with a range of two miles, equipped with both normal and thermal cameras and will be capable of both controlled and autonomous flight using its GPS autopilot feature.ImgurThe drone was designed by a Norwegian company called Prox Dynamics. The British military has been implementing the device with soldiers since 2013 and now the US military is starting to show interest, its size making it perfect for undercover missions where stealth is required or to covertly collect data. Alternatively they can be used to 'swarm' an enemy, confusing their radar systems with an overwhelming number of potential threats.Whilst a $40,000 price tag may seem steep for a device so small, when you consider the Pentagon is planning on spending $2.9 billion on autonomous systems in 2016 it becomes a drop in the ocean.

Check out the video below to see it in action.h/t businessinsiderThe PD-100 Black Hornet is a tiny unmanned air vehicle (UAV) developed by Prox Dynamics. commercial uav drone for saleThe Black Hornet UAV allows armed troops to spy potential threats. ar drone parrot with goproThe small, remotely-controlled rotorcraft helps to save the lives of front line soldiers.ar drone parrot usbThe Black Hornet offers intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support to armed forces in mission critical operations. parrot ar drone teardownThe UAV gives access to remote locations and provides situational awareness in the battle field.ar drone 2 ps3

The development of the Black Hornet was initiated in April 2008. The drone went through several test flights and all kinds of tests before entering into serial production phase in early 2012.The UK Ministry of Defence awarded a $31m contract to Prox Dynamics through Marlborough Communications for the delivery of 160 units of Black Hornets for its armed forces.ar drone 2 customizationThe Black Hornet is deployed in Afghanistan to meet the surveillance requirements of the UK Armed Forces. ar drone 2 pakistanThe UAV is also in service with the security forces of several other countries.Prox Dynamics delivered 100 Black Hornet nano UAVs by early 2013.The Black Hornet is constructed of a rugged, plastic-moulded shell. The aerodynamic shape of the nano UAV withstands stormy winds. The tiny drone is fitted with three surveillance cameras concealed within its nose.

The complete PD-100 Black Hornet system includes two UAVs and a base station.The UAV has a length of about 100mm and rotor span of 120mm. It has a weight of 16gm including that of the surveillance camera. The total system excluding display weighs less than 1kg. The Black Hornet is designed for easy transportation- the entire system fits in a soldier's pocket. A soldier can carry the entire PD-100 Black Hornet unmanned air vehicle system along with his gear.The ultra-compact dimensions of Black Hornet enable the operator to use it in congested and threat-prone areas effectively. The system generates almost negligible noise, making the aircraft more stealthy and re-usable. The small UAV is readily available to fly and takes less than a minute for takeoff.The Black Hornet is installed with a steerable electro-optic (EO) camera capable of producing still images as well as live videos that are displayed on a hand-held device. The camera can be zoomed for clearer picture using the base station controls.

The auto pilot system installed onboard the Black Hornet enables the operator to handle the drone in two modes. The drone can either be operated directly or can be programmed to go through a predefined path using the GPS system installed inside. The digital data link allows the operator to control the UAV within the line-of-sight range of 1,000m.The Black Hornet micro UAV is powered by a very small rechargeable battery. The battery is designed to rotate both horizontal and vertical rotors installed on the drone.The Black Hornet is controlled by an operator from the ground using a joystick-like device. The technology onboard the UAV enables the operator to control the drone from a maximum range of 1,000m.The base station of the Black Hornet offers planning, execution and analysis services to the operator of the system. It includes display connections and system control connections.The Black Hornet can fly at a speed of 10m/s. It has a maximum endurance of 25 minutes.The Global Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) Market 2011-2021This project forms part of our recent analysis and forecasts of the global unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) market available from our business information platform Strategic Defence Intelligence.

For more information click here or contact us: EMEA: +44 20 7936 6783; Americas: +1 415 439 4914; Asia Pacific: +61 2 9947 9709 or via email.Bayraktar is a mini UAV produced by Baykar Makina for the Turkish Armed Forces.Honeywell T-Hawk (tarantula hawk) is a micro air vehicle (MAV) developed for the US Army as part of the Future Combat System (FCS) programme.Is it a toy? Is it a RC model? No, it’s a $200.000 drone for the military! Read on how these ebay toys suddenly look like even more of a steal. It was only a matter of time before the military finally gets to enjoy the benefits of a $15 toy helicopter with a camera strapped to it. ProxDynamix’ “Black Hornet” is essentially a fixed-pitch ruggedized miniature RC helicopter with a camera. Piloting is done via a one-hand controller, the video feed is sent to a handheld monitor.  No word on range, operation time or the video link type, though one should hope that the video feed is at least somewhat encrypted, unlike the Predator drones a few years ago.

Charging is done via a nice base station that also acts as a protective travel case. In development since 2008 (!) they say they spent years on making the helicopter more silent than its toy brethren. The main rotor blades are carbon fiber, and the tail apparently uses a disk-shaped motor instead of the typical cylindrical coreless motor. Presumably this eliminates most of the whirring typically coming from the tail, but it apparently doesn’t make soldier’s fingernails less ugly. The control stick is most likely equipped with accelerometers for motion control. Otherwise it would be difficult to control all functions with one hand. The use of an external TFT monitor is questionable, as any FPV hobbyist who tried to pilot anything this way in bright daylight can confirm. ProxDynamics was awarded a $31 million contract for the delivery of 160 units. At a unit price of almost $200.000 you probably shouldn’t expect this to appear on Hobbyking anytime soon… or ever.