The VECTOR-400 is a compact autopilot designed specifically for Unmanned Aerial Targets (UAT). Its robust enclosure and military grade connector are designed to withstand the toughest environmental conditions and conform to MIL-STD 810 and MIL-STD 461.
It has built-in physical and logical redundancy, allowing it to survive all individual sensor failures and even jamming attacks while maintaining accurate estimates of attitude and position. Advanced algorithms, such as stall protection and an automatic gliding capability, ensure flight safety in case of engine failure.
The VECTOR-400 incorporates UAV Navigation’s proprietary Air Data Attitude and Heading Reference System (AD-AHRS) and Inertial Navigation System (INS), providing precision attitude information and enabling reliable navigation even in the most demanding environments. The outstanding AHRS means that the VECTOR-400 delivers great performance in GNSS-denied environments (<30 m/min drift) and also when executing highly dynamic maneuvers.
Every unit is checked in accordance with UAV Navigation's meticulous calibration processes before passing Quality and final acceptance tests; only then is it delivered to the customer with its individual Certificate Of Conformity.
UAV Navigation has designed the VECTOR-400 to conform with MIL-STD-810 and MIL-STD-461. Hardware and software design and development are in accordance with DO-178, DO-254 and also ASTM F3201-16 - one of the only certifications geared towards unmanned aircraft.
When a radar altimeter is installed, the VECTOR-400 can use readings from the unit to control high speed, sea-skimming flight at altitudes down to 7 meters above surface level in order to provide realistic anti-ship missile threat emulation and training.
Not all autopilots are able to control highly dynamic platforms; even less are able to perform special maneuvers such as high speed, sea-skimming flights.
- Proven on a wide variety of aerial targets around the world.
- Catapult launch (up to 25G).
- Parachute Recovery.
- GNSS Denied Navigation.
- Sea-Skimming (proven in real flights 7m above sea level).
- High Dynamics Actions: Evasive Maneuvers.
- Sea Operations.
- Flown up to 650km/h.
- Optimal Evasive Aircraft Maneuvers (Sustained +3G).
- Manual, Assisted-Manual, and Automatic Modes.
- Auto flight plan execution (up to 400 waypoints).
- Multi-Flight Plan Operations.
- Modify the operation in flight.
- Predictive paths.
- Flight Termination System.
- Automatic Stall Protection.
- COMM LOST Autonomous Operation.
- Meaconing, Intrusion, Jamming, and Interference protection.
- Compact Unit.
- Easy Configuration.
- CAN Dispatcher. Because of the implemented dispatching logics, VECTOR-400 allows the connection of up to 6 supported peripherals to the same CAN bus.
- Multi-UAV Operations.
- Optional Integrated Datalink.
- Radio datalink independent mission capability.
- Geofencing.
- Flares and pyrotechnics control.
- Health Monitoring.
- Dual High-end CPU.
- Integrated ADS.
- Allows the target drone to be used against surface-to-air and air-to-air weapon systems.
- Exceptional performance to price ratio.
- Referenced Flights.
- Transponder IN for UTM (Unmanned Traffic Management).
VECTOR-400 can control a wide variety of peripherals used in aerial targets operations:
- Multiple datalink support.
- Radar altimeter.
- Transponder.
- ECU.
- Flare.
- Pyrotechnics.
- Parachute.
Flight Modes:
Mode
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Brief Description
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MANUAL
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The operator pilot has full control over the platform.
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TAKE-OFF
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The autopilot will execute the take off maneuver from standstill to the point where it can transition safely to AUTO flight.
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AUTO
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AUTO mode executes the programmed Flight Plan (FP) based on waypoints.
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|
NAV-TO
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The autopilot flies to specified coordinates, maintaining current altitude and airspeed.
|
|
LOITER
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The autopilot executes a circular pattern around the location where LOITER mode is engaged.
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|
SAFE |
The autopilot will command the aircraft to fly to a preset Safety Altitude. Once achieved, it will automatically switch to LAND mode.
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DIRECTED | The autopilot maintains current IAS, altitude and heading. | |
LAND
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The autopilot executes the land maneuver, from its current flight mode to a predefined and even relative landing site.
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ASSISTED MANUAL
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The operator is able to over-command directly from the joystick/gamepad.
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UAV Navigation is a leading autopilot manufacturer with extensive experience in the aerial target market. The company's range of autopilots for aerial targets means that customers can choose from cutting-edge, highly advanced flight control solutions for the most demanding platforms, down to more straightforward systems for simpler targets which require a more cost-effective autopilot. Although UAV Navigation offers a range of autopilots, the flight control system and Visionair Ground Control Station (GCS) software behind all of them is the same, providing the same reliability and dependability, and minimizing operator training costs.
MECHANICAL / ENVIRONMENTAL
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|
Size (mm, H x W x L)
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58.0 x 68.0 x 74.5
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Weight
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210 g (No datalink)
255 g (Integrated datalink)
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Enclosure Material
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Grade 6082 Aluminium Alloy
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Environmental Qualification
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MIL-STD-810
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EMC/EMI Qualification
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MIL-STD-461
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Temperature Range
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-40°C to +85°C
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IP Rating
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Designed to conform with IP66
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Humidity
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Up to 90% RH, non-condensing
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Shock survival
|
500g 8ms 1/2 sine
|
Integrated RF DataLink Options
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No Datalink, 400 MHz, 900 MHz
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ESD Compliant
|
IEC 61.000-4-2-level 4
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Main Connector
|
Amphenol MS3112E-16-26P
|
External Datalink Connector
|
SOURIAU 8STA00205SA
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ELECTRICAL AND I/O
|
|
Voltage Supply
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9 to 36 V DC
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Power Consumption
|
2.5W
|
GPIOs
|
8
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PWM rate
|
50Hz, 200Hz or 400Hz
|
CAN
|
1 (up to 1Mbps)
|
Serial comm
|
4 x RS-232 (up to 250kbps) (No radio version)
3 x RS-232 (up to 250kbps) (Radio version)
|
Analog Input
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3 ADC inputs with 12 bit resolution. Conversion extends from 0V to 3.3V
|
GNSS Antenna Connector
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50 Ohm SMA Female
|
GNSS Antenna Power Supply
|
3.3V
|
ADAHRS
|
|
Roll, pitch, yaw range
|
Continuous unrestricted
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Pitch & Roll error
|
< 0.5ᵒ
|
Heading error
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< 1ᵒ
|
Horizontal Position Accuracy
|
2.5 m CEP (GNSS available)
|
Navigation Drift (Dead-reckoning)
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<30 m/min (continuous, not first minute only)
|
Altimeter Range
|
-2.000 ft to +36.000 ft AMSL
|
Altimeter Accuracy
|
±3% Reading
|
Airspeed Ranges
|
15-220 kt (43-450 kt under request)
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Gyro range
|
±300 ᵒ/s (all axis)
|
Accelerometers range
|
±8 g, all axis (±15 g under request)
|
Sampling rate (IMU + Attitude)
|
Up to 500 Hz
|
Internal Magnetometer
|
3 axis
|
Magnetometer attitude compensation
|
Yes
|
Multi-constellation GNSS capability
|
72-channel receiver. GPS, SBAS, QZSS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo.
|
Time to First Fix
|
Cold Start: 26s. Hot Start: 1s
|
REDUNDANCY AND SAFETY
|
|
Waypoint Navigation
|
400 waypoints saved in autopilot
|
Dual IMU
|
Yes
|
Dual CPU
|
Yes. 850MIPS CPUs (each with 16MB program flash & 256MB ram)
|
Online sensors diagnostics
|
Yes (Continuous Built-In Test, CBIT)
|
Dual Power Supply
|
Yes
|
Flight Termination
|
Deadman Output
|
Sensor failure tolerance
|
All single, several multiple
|
VECTOR-400 Break Out Board |
VECTOR-400 Installation Kit |
The VECTOR-400 Installation Kit (INSKIT) includes the ancillaries required to install and connect it to the UAV's onboard avionics:
- GNSS Antenna (Tallysman 33-2410-00-5000).
- Amphenol MS3116F16-26S