New bat-like UAV for the U.S. military

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The United States has given Northrop Grumman extra funding of $39 million so it could keep on developing a special radar that allows the UAV MQ-4C Triton ot dodge other aerial vehicles during flight. This large grant was given to the company due to its major advancement in developing the radar which is in fact a lighter and simpler to produce model of Air-to-Air Radar System (AARS). In this advancement, Northrop Grumman has overcome the difficulty of minimizing a system that launches signals and then searches for signals coming back from other aerial vehicles. The ability developed in the company is much like that existing among bats that can navigate themselves in the air flying at high speeds without bumping into obstacles mid-flight. This special radar, based on the bats’ ability, will be made up of three panels – two installed on each side of the UAV and another at its front.

The U.S. Navy, which is planning on purchasing the Triton is aspiring to operate it as early as 2018, whereas apparently the special radar will be ready only about two years after that. The vehicle will give the american army advanced maritime intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities. It seems that the world of technology is getting much inspiration from the animal kingdom. The bat’s flying capabilities are inspiring considering how fast it flies and turns, and so it’s only seeming that man would aspire to apply these capabilities in its aerial vehicles. In addition to the bat, more animals are making use of advanced abilities and it looks as though man is on path to applying more capabilities inspired by the world around him to his own benefit.