Canadian Aeryon Labs unveils SkyRanger drone

Aeryon Labs launched its latest small Unmanned Aerial System (sUAS), the SkyRanger. According to the company, the Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) system folds up small enough to fit in a custom back-pack but, when deployed, can fly for 50-minute endurance in gusts up to 55 mph (90 kph) and sustained winds up to 40 (65 kph).

Like its smaller sibling, the Aeryon Scout, which saw action with Libyan rebels in 2011, the 5-pound SkyRanger is controlled by touchscreen interface. With it, users can pre-plan the drone’s flight path by clicking waypoints on the interface’s map or direct the SkyRanger in flight via a point-and-click method.

The SkyRanger can also be used for reconnaissance using the system’s upgraded camera payload. It’s stablized HD optic camera transmits video at 1080p and still images up to 15 megapixels while its infrared camera captures 640×480 video and still images in white-hot/black-hot modes.

Aeryon Labs says the SkyRanger will be showcased at a series of international tradeshows and events throughout the year, starting with CANSEC 2013 in Ottawa, Canada May 29-30.
www.SkyRanger.com