The laptop computer that displays the video collected by drones and other aircraft will soon come in a handheld device that can also transmit voice communications.
In its third generation, the remotely operated video enhanced receiver, or ROVER, system provides video and data transmissions from airborne surveillance cameras and sensors to operators. The system has three separate components — a receiver, antennas and a ruggedized laptop. ROVER’s developer, L3 Communications, is miniaturizing the system to fit in the palm of the hand.
About the size of the first cellular phones, the handheld device will have a small display with UHF radio transmission capabilities. It also will receive two additional frequency bands at which unmanned aerial vehicles are transmitting, says Jim O’Donnell, director of ROVER development at L3 Communications.
The smaller size will allow operators to be more mobile than they are with the current 8-pound system.
A prototype is expected to be ready by the end of the year, and deployment is scheduled for 2008.
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