CSIST launches multifunctional drone fleet

2014-12-11

A new line of unmanned aerial vehicles developed by Taiwan’s National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology was rolled out Dec. 9 in Taichung City.

Dubbed Cardinal and Albatross, weighing five and 450 kilograms, respectively, the two drones are expected to be employed in a wide range of missions from disaster relief and environmental monitoring to national defense, according to Ma Wan-june, director of CSIST’s Aeronautical Systems Research Division.

“The portable, lightweight Cardinal drone can dispense with a runway and be launched by hand,” he said. “Featuring such versatile functions as auto piloting, global positioning and real-time video transmission, the Cardinal has been used in naval drills and will be adopted by the Marine Corps for surveillance next year.”

Ma added that the military has earmarked NT$46 million (US$1.47 million) for the purchase of Cardinal aircraft over the next two years.

The larger Albatross drones, however, are already in service under the ROC army’s airborne special operations forces, he said. With an 8.7-meter wingspan, the UAV boasts a 10-hour flight length and 120-kilometer range. The Albatross also shows immense potential in military applications with its capacity for heavier payloads.

“Combining the diverse capabilities of the Albatross and Cardinal drones, the CSIST will organize an integrated UAV fleet to provide services for various government agencies,” the director said.

Based in Taoyuan County, the CSIST is the primary R&D institution under Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense. In addition to the development of weapons systems, the research body has been actively engaged in the field of dual-use technologies in recent years.

According to the institute, its combat and flight simulators are widely used in Taiwan’s interactive gaming industry, generating revenues in excess of NT$460 million.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=225058&CtNode=413)