Pteryx UAV. Pteryx UAV was a Polish Miniature Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) designed for civilian use. It was manufactured and sold by Trigger Composites. The machine was both a flying remote control (RC) model and pre-programmed vehicle. It was awarded the Innowator Podkarpacia medal for innovative design in the category of micro-enterprises of the Podkarpacie region in 2010.

Origin
The Pteryx UAV uses a custom derivation of the FLEXIPILOT software, designed by Aerial Robotics engineering group for photomapping purposes and civilian use.

The avionics and flying platform are capable of full operational capability without using an active transmitter or ground station.

Capabilities

 Delivering data for generating digital elevation models using external photogrammetric software and orthorectification procedure

 Delivering data for precision agriculture by creating surface maps using mosaicking software
 Construction site and long-range linear mapping (up to around 40 km both ways with 2-hour flight time, reserve included)

 Carrying custom research equipment

The camera mount contains either pre-installed compact digital camera or can be exchanged for other equipment. 

The camera can be mounted down-looking (nadir photography) or side-looking (oblique photography).

The whole head can be tilted in flight using the RC transmitter, while reducing stabilization travel to one of the sides.

Capabilities
 Flying multiple missions per day without being required to reprogram the autopilot, using waypoints. 
 Exchangeable mission package 
 Single button operation
 Fully enclosed camera head 
 Ability to accommodate a weight range 200g-1000g
 Takeoff by catapult
 Landing through use of a parachute

Camera
The aircraft provides positions of the photos taken, and has storage for 8000 events.
Ground-projected positions include the following error margins:
 GPS position error up to 5m.
 Altitude drift (up to 5m per 1 hour of flight)
 Camera head stabilization precision (transients up to 5°)
 Fuselage pitch due to turbulence (up to 8° during hot weather, typically 2° in winter)
 Camera mounting error (typically 1–4° if not calibrated)
 Heading/yaw error (the aircraft performs crabbing in presence of wind)
Typical orthophoto map precision (mean reprojection errors):
  horizontal
  vertical
 around 2.5m global shift to be removed with a few locally measured points

Data processing strategies

Several data processing approaches are possible depending on application:
 Direct photo examination
 Non-georeferenced image stitching using free software
 Using free 3D modelling services, as mentioned in examples section
 Importing each photo as ground overlay in Google Earth (semi-automatic with supplied software)
 Using pre-paid service based on cloud computing, yielding a result in hours (delivers orthophotomap and optionally DSM)
 Local processing using specialized GIS software created specifically for large scale image mosaicking (delivers orthophotomap and optionally DSM)

Aircraft components
 Fuselage
 3-section wings with mounting screws
 Horizontal stabilizer section
 Parachute

Other required equipment
 LiPo batteries
 Laptop or netbook
 Compact digital camera
 RC controller compliant with local laws (see Radio-controlled aircraft Transmitting and Receiving Frequencies)

General characteristics
Masses:
 Maximum takeoff weight 5.0 kg
Dimensions:
 Wingspan: 2.8 m
 Length: 1.4 m
 Height: 0.33 m
 Propulsion: brushless DC electric motor and rechargeable lithium polymer battery
 Endurance: 55min with 1 kg payload, 120min with 450g payload
V speeds:
 VC: around 50 km/h
 VS: 34–38 km/h depending on TOW
 VA: 120 km/h
 VNE: 160 km/h
Flight altitude:
 Service Ceiling 3000m Pteryx Lite
 Service Ceiling 1200m Pteryx Pro
 Cruise altitude 100–520m AGL, 250m typical – dictated by photo resolution
Handling:
 Assembly time: Around 5 minutes.
 Materials: Custom fiberglass composite material covered with durable red gelcoat, carbon fiber and Kevlar reinforcements, wood and other plastics. Wooden or all-composite wings are offered.

References

External links
 https://web.archive.org/web/20120112174709/http://pteryx.eu/Project webpages

Unmanned aerial vehicles of Poland