
14 September 2022
R&D case: Small and silent drones for mission landing zone reconnaissance
Small and silent drones for mission landing zone reconnaissance. Selecting a good landing zone in an uninhabited area requires a good and extensive exploration of the terrain by specialists. This is a time-consuming activity that sometimes has to be done in silence. Possible locations are identified using digital maps and satellite data, but that data can be outdated and is usually not very detailed. That is why an initial check of the location is needed with current, up-to-date and more accurate recordings. ‘Pathfinders’ are sent ahead by parachute to explore the area with small drones that fit in a backpack, in addition to their survival gear and weapons. In the Mission Landing Zones (MILZ) project, the partner CGI developed software that can automatically identify possible landing zones based on operational criteria and data from maps and satellites. A quick on-site reconnaissance of the possible landing zone is preferred for updating and refining the data