CHARLOTTE, N.C., 14 Aug. 2012. Sinclair Community College (SCC) staff in Dayton, Ohio, selected UTC Aerospace Systems, a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX), to provide a small unmanned aerial system (SUAS) for use in the college's training program for first responders.
Engineers at UTC Aerospace Systems’ Sensors & Integrated Systems in Burnsville, Minn., are developing and producing the SUAS, which is scheduled to be delivered later this year. The selection marks the first time the business will serve in a prime contractor role to provide a complete micro SUAS.
Under the contract, UTC Aerospace Systems will provide a complete system, including: two air vehicles, a tablet-style ground station, an electro-optical payload, and a data link. The autonomous system uses affordable, high-performance, gyro-stabilized, electro-optical cameras, lending to low-cost, real-time video capabilities for a multitude of situations.
"Our training programs are being developed with the goal of increasing the capability of first responders out in the field, and the UTC Aerospace Systems SUAS is an ideal size, weight, and capability for this program," Deb Norris, Sinclair vice president of workforce development and corporate services, says. "This electronic air vehicle fits in the trunk of a police car, can be airborne as soon as a need is identified, and operates in near silence. The purchase of the system reaffirms Sinclair's commitment to being a leading national UAS Training and Certification Center."
The Sensors & Integrated Systems team is working with Dayton, Ohio-based suppliers, such as composite airframe provider GeoSpatial, to support the local unmanned aerial systems (UAS) industry.
“Sensors and sensing systems integration is one of UTC Aerospace Systems' core technologies and it provides us a path to develop and deliver affordable unmanned air systems that will perform diverse missions. We look forward to working with Sinclair Community College in providing an innovative solution that will support law enforcement, first responders, and industries such as agriculture, natural resource management, energy exploration, and infrastructure support,” says David Krier, business development director at Sensors & Integrated Systems.
