Alaskan UAS Center purchases UAV

By Emily Aasand | December 11, 2014

The Alaska Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration has purchased ING Robotic Aviation’s Responder rotary wing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to use for research into systems integration and specific UAV applications.

“After researching available systems that met our performance and payload integration requirements, we determined that the Responder was the best solution, and actually exceeds our weather, robustness and payload lift requirements,” said Marty Rogers, director of ACUASI.

The Responder is equipped with gimbal mounted camera systems and can provide real time still- and video-images in both visual and infrared sections of the spectrum. It’s also comes with a ground control system and ancillary equipment.

“This is also a first step in developing a partnership with ING Robotic Aviation,” said Rogers. “They have extensive experience in operating in difficult conditions, and take a serious, aviation company approach to both their technology and operations. These are people we can work with.”

The vertical take-off and landing aircraft has a cruise operational endurance of 40 minutes, a hover operational endurance of 30 minutes, and has payload capacity of up to 12 kilograms (roughly 26 pounds).

“ACUASI knows what they are doing. They have a deep understanding of systems, payloads and applications. This is an organization that we are very interested in cooperating with, and it is an honor that they have selected Responder as their next system,” said Ian Glenn, CEO and CTO of ING Robotic Aviation. “We are looking forward to continuing to work with them on a range of northern applications for UAVs.”

ING Robotic Aviation will provide a two-week training package for ACUASI.

ACUASI was established in 2012 by the University of Alaska Board of Regents in recognition of the importance and growth of the unmanned aircraft program. It’s tasked with pursuing opportunities with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration through the FAA test sites. The Pan Pacific UAS Test Range Complex reports to the ACUASI, but also includes principal partners in Oregon and Hawaii.