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Show Hil top HILLTOP TIMES New surveillance system to keep military operators safer 4 August 21, 2014 Hilltop Times staff W RIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio — In an urban (noncombat) environment, information is typically collected by local law enforcement officers who are "walking their beat," officers can become familiar with areas of the city by observing, interpreting and understanding what they see on a daily basis. Air Force expeditionary forces in Afghanistan requested a system that would give them similar situational awareness in Afghanistan villages and other remote areas, but without human participation or requiring them to "walk a beat." So, the Air Force and a small business partner recently developed and tested in the field a small unmanned aircraft system, or SUAS, that allows U.S. military forces to perform strategic reconnaissance while staying out of harm's way. Aurora Flight Sciences Corporation in Manassas, Virginia, developed an "urban beat cop" intelligence, surveillance and Courtesy photo Service members operate a unmanned aircraft system, reconnaissance system, called Skate, with Small Business Innovation Research, or SBIR, funding from the Air Force and Navy. The Skate system is portable, adaptable, and easily modified for more effective field use, making it an ideal technology to meet the demands of the battlefield environment. "Skate is a force multiplier that provides the warfighter with immediate eyes-on-target and real-time situational awareness," said Douglas Szczublewski, the Air Force program manager. Skate device, a small in field testing. The Skate system includes real-time streaming video and infrared imagery; an intuitive, hand-held user interface; and the ability to handlaunch while in confined areas. A variant of the system offers a capture hook for automated launch and recovery, and charging from power sources on the ground. Skate is currently being marketed for a variety of applications, including use by law enforcement groups. Successful field trials of the technology provided important data for future development of the system, increasing endurance, durability, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, or ISR, capabilities. Based on additional feedback from users in the field, a follow-on program was initiated to provide a low-cost SUAS capable of operation in two operational flight modes, fully autonomous and manually controlled. Additionally, personnel asked that the system offer vertical takeoff and landing or fixed wing flight, carry full-motion video payloads in day or night, and be compact, lightweight and easy to maintain, without the use of special tools or unique support equipment. "Aurora is pleased that Skate is providing the warfighter with ISR capabilities not routinely available for small unit operations," said Mark Cherry, Aurora's chief executive officer. "Skate provides outstanding situational awareness to protect our warfighters and enhance their operational effectiveness." Aurora Flight Sciences develops and manufactures a variety of advanced unmanned aerial systems. The SBIR program has enabled the company to develop and transition several innovative technologies for military use. WIjUag END CIFt. SUMMER $500 MILITARY APPRECIATION! 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On the first trip with Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers, then-chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the plane stopped at Shannon Airport, Ireland, to refuel. He got off the plane into the midst of about 150 National Guardsmen going home. Robin shook every hand, posed for every picture and ensured the Guardsmen knew he appreciated their sacrifices. That was Robin. At the end of every performance — be it a combat outpost or a forward operating base — Robin was always the last entertainer to leave. In Iraq, a group of Marines came in from patrol and missed his show. He made it a point to meet with them and give them 20-minutes of fun, even as the chopper's blades were turning to go to the next show. In Afghanistan, the "clamshell" at Bagram Air Field was a favorite venue for him, and he performed there many times. In 2010, he started the show with "I love what you've done with the place." He was not a prima donna. One time a sandstorm grounded the party at an outpost near Baghdad. Robin along with everyone else crammed into a small "tin can" to spend the night. The next day his jokes about snoring and gaseous emissions pretty much convulsed everyone. There was a serious side. He knew what was happening in the areas he traveled. He understood what the men and women he was entertaining did for America each day. He discussed events in the region with knowledge, but used humor — even then — to make See WILLIAMS I Page 5 $35,050 6 __ 1#1f9/A" $22,315 -1,500 -500 -500 -500 LANCER ES 9 -1 295* N Flits 2014 MITSUBISHI MSRP Customer Cash OUTLANDER SPORT 2WD Dealer Bonus Owner Loyalty Military Rebate $19,315* "PLUS TT&L OAC 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer EVO MR 2011 Suzuki Kihashi 2007 Ford Focus ZX3 UNDER 6K MILES Save Thousands off New, still under warranty. Stk#US0080. Picture for illustration only. UNDER 5K MILES. Save Thousands off New, still under warranty. Stk#US0018. Picture for illustration only. LOW MILES. Sweet deal. Stk#US50017. 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