On Tuesday August 24 2010 Draganfly Innovations unveiled the all new Draganflyer X8 at the annual AUVSI conference in Denver Colorado. Draganfly Innovations is demonstrating the Draganflyer X8 at their booth inside a 10×10 foot octagonal cage and also in the aviation demonstration area at the AUVSI trade show.

You can find Draganfly Innovations at booth number 2025 and flying in the aviation demonstration area each demonstration day from 11:00 to 12:00 am.

Along with the Draganflyer X8, Draganfly Innovations also unveiled the new hand held ground control station (GCS). The optional hand held GCS combines all the features of the Draganflyer controller and the Video base station into one ergonomically designed package.

The innovative hand held GCS is capable of displaying real time video from the helicopter on its 6.3 inch daylight viewable bright LCD screen. The displayed video can also be recorded with the use of the hand held GCS built in digital video recorder. Running a linux operating system on an Intel Atom Z530 CPU makes this new hand held GCS capable of running Draganview software right on the controller. All the features of the video base station and the controller right in the palm of your hands.

The defensetech.org news article notes that the Draganflyer X6 can by flown by practically anyone with only a few hours of flight training. Although the Draganflyer UAV helicopters are highly maneuverable, they have a sophisticated flight computer and 11 onboard sensors that allow pilots to focus on getting outstanding aerial pictures and video.

You can learn more about the Draganflyer UAV helicopters on our website. You can also read the defensetech.org news article.

• Apache Longbow, an attack helicopter used by the military
• Blackhawk, one of the most sophisticated manned helicopters in the world
• Coast Guard helicopters which fly over water on rescue missions
• Popular Robinson made helicopters used by the police and civil aviation
• Draganflyer X6 and Grumman MQ8 Firescout UAVs

The episode talks about how the Draganflyer UAV RC helicopters use a new and innovative computerized flight control system; which flies the helicopter by adjusting each electric motors speed individually. The simplicity and reliability of this design has applications in future helicopter designs, and also makes the Draganflyer X6 UAV perfect for aerial reconnaissance and photography. The Draganflyer X6 UAV helicopter’s advanced flight computer is also explained, and the auto-land and GPS features are demonstrated.

You can watch the episode on the History Channel, or purchase the entire season from Amazon.com. More information about the Draganflyer X4, Draganflyer X6, and Draganflyer X8 electric RC helicopters is available on our website.

The Draganflyer X6 is currently classified in the same category as a reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle. This is the same classification that is used for the unmanned aerial vehicles used by the military in places such as Afghanistan and Iraq. In order for the Mesa County Sheriffs office to fly the Draganflyer X6 they had to go through a complicated permitting process with stiff requirements from the FAA. Most of the requirements for the FAA are in areas of safety, and the Draganflyer X6 has met these requirements. It is hoped that by gathering data by using the Draganflyer X6 in police operations the FAA will change the classification of the Draganflyer X6

An advantage of the Draganflyer X6 is the relatively low cost when compared to air operations using a full sized manned helicopter or fixed wing aircraft. The Mesa County’s Sheriff office has been involved in more than 60 search and rescue operations this year. The Draganflyer X6 could of been deployed at a number of these cases providing a substantial cost savings for the Mesa County Sheriffs office.

The April 2008 Blue Line Magazine cover featured the OPP Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) project, which entered operational service with the Kenora Forensic Services Unit in August, 2008. The original “FIU-301″ system was an “in-house” design born of necessity (in my garage) to provide an efficient and economical way of obtaining high resolution aerial images at major case scenes.

Despite a very modest beginning, the 301 system made aviation history as the first federally approved UAV to enter full time service with an emergency service in North America. Over the next year, we successfully deployed 301’s at seven homicide scenes with a conservative estimate of $20,000 saved over our traditional charter service method. The images obtained have been accepted during court proceedings and have proved valuable court aids to judges, juries, counsel and witnesses.

In the original article I emphasized the challenges and importance of obtaining and operating within the governing legislation of the Canadian Air Regulations (CARs). Issued by Transport Canada, the “Special Flight Operations Certificate” (SFOC) that must be obtained for any type or size of “non-hobby” unmanned flying machine dictates a number of operational procedures and restrictions. There is no doubt that the legislative hurdles are the main reason more of these systems are not being used by civilian agencies. However, it is possible to continue advancing UAV use within the current rule set if we proceed properly.

In January of this year, we took the next step to achieving this goal by putting a second, commercially produced, UAV into operational service within the Kenora Forensic Unit.

The “Draganflyer X6” is produced here in Canada by Saskatoon-based “Draganfly Innovations”. The Draganflyer X6 is an innovative six rotor helicopter configuration that incorporates advanced on-board stabilization features along with a GPS hold function, providing an excellent camera platform.

At just under two kilograms, this small portable electric helicopter can carry a variety of wireless, “real-time” playback camera packages, including 10 megapixel still, a low-light video, high-def video or micro thermal imaging. This vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capabilities allow us to operate essentially under the same restrictions as our initial 301 system, but within a much smaller area of operations. To this end, we have already used the Draganflyer X6 at four homicide scenes, with the second representing another aviation first – the first federally approved operational use in North America of a UAV by an emergency service within an urban environment.

Although the basic mission of obtaining aerial images remains essentially the same, the VTOL capabilities of the Draganflyer X6, advanced electronic assist functions, ease of operation and multiple camera packages lets us explore some basic tactical or search and rescue assist roles. Granted, the 15 to 20 minute operational time, weather conditions and current legislation make those mission capabilities very limited, but we have already proven the court value of basic aerial images along with demonstrated cost savings.

These small systems will continue to evolve and improve with more options becoming available. Case in point, Draganfly recently announced a new Draganflyer X4 model which will offer many of the capabilities of the Draganflyer X6 for a lower price.

Other promising systems such as Waterloo’s Aeryon Labs “Scout” (http://www.aeryon.com/) will continually improve operational support capabilities. The price range of the “turn key” package systems range from $10,000 to $50,000 and certainly fall into the “doable” category when compared with similarly capable “military grade” systems.

I suggest command staff, incident commanders, administrators or surveillance personnel take heed. When I say moving forward in small steps, I mean very small steps. We are very likely “years” away from being allowed to operate any UAV beyond the “visual line of sight” of the operator or outside a secured police environment. Any grand ideas about highway patrols, extensive large area search and rescue operations or especially any form of surveillance should not be on any police radar (pun intended).

Regardless of the circumstances, we do not have any special authority to circumvent federal aviation law in this area. The fact still remains that no specific legislation has been written to cover the operations of any UAV within civilian airspace. It is an issue that Transport Canada must eventually invest significant resources in developing. Until that time however, we are continuing to develop safe and effective operating procedures that could very well set the standards and templates for the pending legislation.

Although limited, we have demonstrated that a UAV has a practical place in support of forensic services with developing elements of officer and public safety in tactical and search and rescue roles. If we keep to the basics and continue to operate safely and professionally, we can continue to creep forward. To this end, working with the Canadian Centre for Unmanned Vehicle Systems (http://www.ccuvs.com/) and the Canadian Police Research Centre (CPRC), we recently completed the first run of a “pilot project” (no pun intended) to professionally train operators of these small UAVs.

The course curriculum included a pre-course study package, a “ground school” element and written testing based on basic flight theory and related Canadian air regulations. Candidates also obtained an Industry Canada radio licence that will allow them to communicate on aviation frequencies. Theory was accompanied with hands-on flight training on the currently approved Draganflyer X6 system to manufacturer standard.

Six candidates from three police services participated (Saskatoon, OPP and Regina). Upon completing the training, candidates critiqued all aspects of the course curriculum could be refined to ensure relevancy of a future permanent training program for interested emergency services.

It is anticipated within the following months that Saskatoon and Regina will have their own X6 system to put into operational service. This, of course, will depend on the two departments successfully obtaining a SFOC from Transport Canada, the foundation of which will be supported by the training program. In the interim, Saskatoon has already contracted and obtained SFOC authority to have Draganfly Innovations perform basic aerial photography at selected scenes as required.

Along with out partnered services and organizations, we are working to establish a national standard for safe, practical and professional use of UAV technology that will benefit both the public and those who work for them. Keeping that in mind, I will be chairing a full day workshop at the annual UVS Canada (http://www.uvscanada.org/) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Systems International Conference, being held in Victoria November 2 to 5. If your department is considering using UAV technology, it would be well worth the investment to send a motivated representative to this conference.

It is our goal to identify and organize a central repository resource of interested agencies, expertise and resources that will benefit all police and emergency services. Working together under established standard operating procedures, training and UAV systems will pave the way for wider operational use. Contact me at marc.sharpe@ontario.ca if you are looking for more information.

Marc Sharpe is an ident constable with Kenora OPP Forensic Identification Services.

Draganfly Innovations held the first ever indoor flight demonstrations at the AUVSI, flying both the Draganflyer X4 and X6 in a 20 foot octagonal cage. This ability to fly indoors sets the Draganflyer helicopters apart from large, conventional UAVs. Both the Draganflyer X4 and X6 are electric powered allowing them to be virtually silent and carry large payloads.

Draganflyer UAV helicopters feature SteadyFlight technology and an advanced flight computer, allowing them to be easily flown by anyone. Accelerometers, gyroscopes, and a magnetometer all work with the flight computer to give you crystal clear aerial pictures and video. All available cameras now feature built in DVRs, keeping a pristine copy of your aerial pictures and video for analysis and processing.

Check out this video, which shows the Draganflyer X6 UAV and several other aircraft featured at the AUVSI 2009 conference.

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For the past several years, Mark Sharpe of the Ontario Provincial Police force has been using aerial pictures and video to help with law enforcement.

The OPP found a solution with the Draganflyer helicopter, North America’s first commercially available UAV legalized for law enforcement applications. Fast deployment and an advanced autopilot make the Draganflyer UAV the perfect choice for police departments who need aerial pictures and video.

So why would a police force based out of a small city need aerial surveillance? For one thing, the Ontario police need to cover a huge area ranging all the way from the U.S border to Hudson Bay. It is hoped that using remotely operated vehicles can help reduce charter costs to remote areas. Aerial pictures and video are also very useful in court, helping judges and juries to visualize crime scenes effectively.

Featured on www.canada.com, the Winnipeg Free Press, and the Saskatoon Star Phoenix, it’s clear that there is definitely a market for UAVs in law enforcement applications.