Strix-DF
Mini unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)
Strix-DF is a mini unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system developed and produced by Alpi Aviation to support tactical and special operations forces.
Strix-DF provides aerial surveillance and intelligence data in urban environments during all light conditions.
Strix-DF features flying wing sweepback configuration. It consists of five main components made of composite materials, carbon, kevlar and glass fibers in an epoxy matrix. The aircraft has extremely low noise signature and can be carried in a compact light weight backpack.
Strix-DF can be deployed within eight minutes and can execute missions during day and night conditions. It can be controlled by a single operator (but two operators is a standard configuration) and can be launched by a bungee catapult. It performs autonomous take-off and landing.
The maximum take-off weight of the UAV is 10 kg.
Strix-DF features aerodynamic wings with a wing span of 3 m. The wings are attached with winglets to provide increased flight performance. The fuselage contains video/telemetry link and landing/emergency parachute in the center right compartment. A nose piece in polyurethane foam protects the fuselage nose.
Two lithium polymer battery packs, which provide power supply for the engine and onboard avionics, are installed in the two dedicated compartments under the wing.
Strix-DF can carry a maximum payload weight of 1.5 kg. It is equipped with 3 different fully stabilized, interchangeable payloads to provide enhanced situational awareness during both day and night flight operations.
The payload features 30x EO optical zoom camera that generates HD standard video and imagery, at the same time it features a x4 digital zoom IR camera to capture high resolution thermal infrared imagery and video. Additionally, inside the payloads are installed an infrared laser spotter and a laser range finder.
The avionics onboard Strix-DF are housed in the center of the front compartment of the fuselage. The avionics include a autopilot with an embedded GPS system and an inertial measurement unit (IMU), and sensors.
A ground control station provides flight mission planning, data acquisition, telemetry data and video signals using a ground tracking data terminal. Power supply for the ground station is provided either by lithium polymer rechargeable batteries or by the external power supplies.
The ground station can be organized in a simple tactical version for easy transportation and/or a stationery configuration that also includes two big touch screens to manage the system by two dedicated operators (mission and payload).
The ground station human control interface consists of Core UAV Control Station (CUCS), which acts as the flight control interface, mission planner and payload management. It is also installed with a Control Data Terminal (CDT) to transmit and receive telemetry data and video signals between the aircraft and the CUCS.
The mission management software installed in the CUCS ha a single window and permits easy mission managements with touch screen commands for UAV state changes and for gimbal control.
Features