BROOKLYN, NY – March 17, 2005 – "For the first time in history, autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have flown using flocking and swarming algorithms," reports Daniel Preston, chief executive and lead engineer for Atair Aerospace, Inc. (Atair AS).

“Flocking and Swarming” are two words used interchangeably to refer to modeled flight that is biologically inspired by the flight of flocking birds and swarming insects. The capability of biological systems to autonomously maneuver, track and pursue evasive targets in a cluttered environment is vastly superior to any engineered system.

Atair AS is pioneering the development and implementation of flocking and active collision avoidance algorithms on UAVs. Atair AS' technology was first tested December 16-18 in Eloy, Ariz. where a fleet of five Onyx™ systems were airdropped and successfully flocked in tight formation to target. Onyx systems are autonomously guided parafoil systems (UAV gliders) designed to allow military cargo to be parachuted from high altitude and horizontal stand off and land accurately on target. Atair AS developed the Onyx systems under contract with the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Systems Center. Onyx systems can be dropped at up to 35,000 ft altitude autonomously glide for 30+ miles and land on a preprogrammed target–accurate to about 150 feet.

The importance of flocking and active collision avoidance towards the application of precision resupply is critical. With this technology multiple systems (50+) can be deployed in the same airspace, guiding to one or multiple targets without possibility of mid air collisions. 

Atair AS' inventive technology has advanced the state of the art in guidance and control systems. This technology will open the door for advanced autonomous flight capabilities on a variety of UAV platforms from fixed wing to rotorcraft, with applications from sensor and munitions delivery to surveillance.

Atair Aerospace, Inc. is a Brooklyn-based defense company dedicated to modernizing military and industrial airdrop techniques through its range of innovative autonomously guided parachute systems and UAVs.

For more information, contact Rick Zaccari at PR@atairaerospace.com or visit the Atair Aerospace website at www.atairaerospace.com.

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March 17, 2005