UAS for public safety agencies debuts

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MONROVIA, Calif., Oct. 31 (UPI) -- A small unmanned aerial system for use by law enforcement emergency first responders has been introduced by AeroVironment Inc. of California.

The Qube is small enough to fit easily in the trunk of a car and can be assembled and ready for flight in less than five minutes, the company said.

"Public safety professionals have been asking for this capability for years," said Tom Herring, AeroVironment senior vice president and general manager of Unmanned Aircraft Systems. "They have learned about the effectiveness of our Raven, Wasp and Puma UAS over the battlefield and want a similar capability that is tailored to their mission requirements.

"The Qube system targets their needs and will provide a portable aerial vantage point to help public safety workers perform their duties more safely and effectively."

The Vertical Takeoff and Landing vehicle can hover for 40 minutes. It is equipped with dual color and thermal video cameras and can transmit live video directly to the operator to assist with threat assessment, situational awareness, search and rescue, perimeter security and a variety of other missions.

AeroVironment said it is starting a trial and evaluation program for public safety agencies to demonstrate the Qube system's unique capabilities.