Ukrainian drone “OKO-9” takes to the air for the first time: what’s special about it (video)
The working prototype of the OKO-9 was able to lift a 70-kilogram load into the sky. According to the developers, in the future it will be able to fly up to 100 km.
The developers have completed a test flight of the prototype of the OKO-9 heavy electric unmanned aircraft with a vertical takeoff and landing system and a fully Ukrainian airframe. The information was posted on the Facebook page of the Cyber Avia group of volunteer engineers.
The engineers who created the OKO-9 explained that it was almost entirely assembled from domestic parts. So far, there is only a prototype of the drone, as the drone itself is still under development.
The video footage shows how the drone with 5 propellers successfully lifted off the ground and stayed in the sky for some time. He made his first flight with a takeoff weight of 70 kilograms.
Photo: Screenshot
OKO-9 drone: what is known about it
The OKO-9 UAV is an unmanned aircraft that was designed by its creators to be a carrier of special radio equipment or an aerial surveillance system. According to the developers, the development priority is ease of use and quick retraining of drone pilots on the new platform.
Compared to gasoline-powered aircraft, it has a much lower noise level (a fuel-powered version is also available, providing longer operating times). The drone is characterized by increased resistance to wind gusts in airplane mode (automatic activation of the lifting engines to prevent stalling). In addition, OKO-9 can hover over the selected point.
The OKO-9 platform is compatible with the Shleif remote control system, which allows for aerial monitoring and control of the aircraft and all onboard equipment via the Internet, ensuring data protection and minimal additional delay.
Technical characteristics of the OKO-9 UAV:
- Wingspan – 5 meters;
- takeoff weight – 70 kg;
- communication range – 100 km;
- speed – 100 km/h;
- Air time – 150+ minutes (including 2 minutes for vertical takeoff and landing).
Typical scenarios for using the OKO-9 UAV
- Operation without GPS: Vertical takeoff, visual flight to a depth of 100 km, controlled operation in the zone at an altitude of 500-1000 m for up to 30 minutes, visual return, vertical landing.
- GPS + inertial rough guidance system: Automatic vertical takeoff, automated flight to a depth of 50 km, controlled operation in the zone at an altitude of 300-1000 m for up to 60 minutes, automated return, vertical automatic landing.
- Work with GPS + inertial rough guidance system: The ability to perform a mission in fully automatic mode, including automatic vertical takeoff and automatic landing in full radio silence mode.
