BCB International has developed the SQ-4 Recon unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and claims the palm-sized drone “takes surveillance to new heights”.
The Cardiff-based manufacturer created the 290-gram SQ-4 Recon to fit into the palm of a hand and it is one of the smallest military-use UAVs in the world.
The drone is designed to excel at a range of military and security tasks. It features four propellers, two infrared search lights, two day and night digital cameras, a highly-sensitive microphone and ultra-sonic sensors to allow it to search buildings and narrow spaces.
It can be operated by a soldier with a tablet computer located in a control room thousands of miles away and is capable of perching in one spot for eight hours in reconnaissance tasks, to watch and listen to the enemy.
Barry Davies, BCB International’s Robotics Projects Manager, said the SQ-4 Recon’s small size and lightweight designs means it can be “carried and deployed with little additional strain” by teams.
“The drone can be flown remotely using a tablet, which also displays the video and stills transmitted by its high-resolution camera,” he added.
“Its small size coupled with its 10 ultrasonic sensors makes it ideal for penetrating and searching buildings and narrow spaces. It can hover discreetly over a targeted area or ‘perch and stare’ using day or night vision.
“The SQ-4 provides soldiers and security forces with instant information about the enemy’s movements, capabilities and any hidden dangers that may be lurking over a hill or inside a building without putting themselves in harm’s way”
