Trillium Engineering has begun flight testing of its new HD gimbaled camera system for small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), the HD55. The new system is the next-generation replacement for the HD50, which came in four configurations, one of which according to Trillium was the the smallest cooled MWIR gimbaled camera system on the market.
The HD55 has been designed as a payload for Group 2 and smaller Group 3 UAS, incorporating electro-optical (EO) and cryogenically-cooled mid-wave infrared (MWIR) cameras, as well as an onboard image processor. The gimbal measures 5.5 inches in diameter and weighs in at 1750 grams, with the same swept volume as its predecessor but less weight.
Trillium engineers have been flight-testing the HD55 on various airborne platforms, including a small multi-rotor drone and a manned Cessna aircraft, which serves as a surrogate for a fixed-wing tactical UAS. The next step will be to begin testing on the real target platforms.
Rob Gilchrist, cofounder and president of Trillium Engineering, commented: “At Trillium, we are constantly on the hunt for state-of-the-art technology, and the development of the HD55, the newest addition to our family of gimbaled systems, exemplifies this approach. The HD55 has a narrower field of view than the HD50, allowing the new system to get a closer, more actionable look at targets. We are already getting interest from major platform providers.”
