Autonomous Mobile Ground Sensor for Enhanced ISR Missions

Barron Associates proposes development of the Micro, Intelligent, Deployable Autonomous Sensor (MIDAS). MIDAS combines a compact vehicle design, leading ISR sensors, intelligent control for VTOL, helicopter-mode, and wing-borne flight, advanced vision processing, and automated recharging in an elegant and efficient package. MIDAS can be air-deployed from transport vehicles and its efficient aerodynamic design enables dense spatiotemporal surveillance of areas of interest. The ability to loiter or hover allows for prolonged reconnaissance of specific targets. MIDAS operates at a high level of autonomy due to advanced flight control, vision-processing for obstacle detection, and an automated recharging process. These components result in complete autonomous operation for extended periods as MIDAS can automatically recharge itself without any supervisory intervention or guidance.