Israel Aerospace Industries unveils ‘multi-flyer’ fleet
Multi-flyers are meant to serve as eyes on the ground for civic authorities and to offer innovative ways to deliver objects and information.
By HAGAY HACOHENMulti-Flyer Drones(photo credit: IAI)Israel Aerospace Industries unveiled a multi-flyer this week – a fleet of innovative, remote-controlled, tiny helicopters.They were shown as part of the ninth international panel dealing with unmanned systems, which included top experts in the field of aviation. Multi-flyers are meant to serve as eyes on the ground for civic authorities and to offer innovative ways to deliver objects and information.For example, during earthquakes, the fleet can be used to send images to rescue teams; instruct survivors on where to walk to get medical help; and to deliver food and supplies to people who can’t move.Each tiny helicopter can carry up to 2 kg. of cargo.The fleet can be easily controlled by several people using a single operation system, such as a smartphone. This will allow tasks to be assigned and carried out as events on the ground dictate. IAI worked with several leading Israeli companies to create the multi-flyers.Simplex CEO Shay Levy said he is happy his firm was tapped to create the Flight-Ops control system used by the fleet. Eric Freeman, CEO of Alpha Unmanned, also expressed pride in being asked to join the project as “it demands a versatile platform for drones that can fly between 90-150 minutes.”The panel was held under the Israeli chapter of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International and the Association of Engineers, Architects and Graduates in Technological Sciences in Israel.
