Security and survival equipment company BCB International Ltd has delivered the first orders of a newly developed small vertical take-off and land (VTOL) Unmanned Air Vehicle. The UAV weighs less than a typical large loaf of bread, the makers say.
BCB says it’s developed products including self-inflating body armour, and ballistic protective underwear dubbed ‘Blast Boxers’. Earlier this year, the company commercialised its range of unmanned air systems which vary in sizes and can be deployed in confined spaces, and search and rescue and maritime operations.
BCB International’s Managing Director, Andrew Howell, said: “Following successful trials and training in India as well as an unspecified European country, the first deliveries of our SQ4 unmanned air system represent an important milestone for the company. The customers had quite different needs. One of the end users is a police special surveillance team and the other a specialist military force. While the end use is different, both had similar evaluation trials in so far as the flight duration of 35 minutes and range at 2.4km were both rigorously tested and proven.”
BCB adds that it had to prove as part of the training package that the SQ4 was quick to launch and easy to operate. Andrew Howell added: “Set in full auto mode a mission can be activated within minutes and the SQ4 can be left to conduct the mission in a fly and forget method which can be overridden at any time during the flight. This function allows the soldier or police officer to carry out their duties without having to become a pilot.”
Weighing under 600 grams (battery included), the SQ4 falls into less rigorous regulatory controls than larger and heavier UAVs with comparable performance characteristics, the company says. Visit www.uas.wales.
