- Company Conducts Research Flights of Tethered Drones for Nighttime Facility Monitoring
and Security -
JACKSONVILLE,
FL – April 13, 2016 – Drone Aviation Holding Corp. (OTCQX: DRNE) (“DAC” or
“Drone Aviation”), a manufacturer of tethered drones and lighter-than-air
aerostats today announced that in collaboration with The Mid-Atlantic Aviation
Partnership at Virginia Tech (VTMAAP) and Aviation Systems Engineering Company (ASEC),
Inc., the Company has successfully completed an FAA-approved nighttime commercial
tethered drone operational flight test. The test was designed to evaluate the
use of a tethered drone and advanced optical systems to provide persistent,
large venue and facility monitoring and security at night.
The WATT-300 tethered drone was
flown with a gimbaled, dual electro-optical/infrared camera to test persistent,
tethered nighttime research objectives. During flights conducted at two
locations, the WATT was flown to an altitude of 150 feet by an ASEC pilot under
supervision of VTMAAP personnel. Due to its tether and self-contained ground
control station, the independent camera operator had complete control over the
dual electro-optical infrared camera system, switching between the stabilized,
high-zoom optics and the infrared camera after sunset.
“Successful
flight tests such as this recently completed night operation reconfirms our belief
that the WATT and its unique tether technology will make a significant impact
on the commercial drone marketplace because of its unmatched ability to provide
persistent monitoring day or night while utilizing the most sophisticated
optical camera systems,” said Jay Nussbaum, Chairman of Drone Aviation Holding
Corp. “We look forward to the opportunity to continue to work with industry
partners to assist them in exploring how our tethered drones can be
successfully integrated into their programs.”
Brent
Klavon, ASEC’s Pilot in Command to the night time flight test, commented, “It
was exciting to be the pilot for a project that advances safe, compliant drone
operations and in this case, a successful night flight.”
The WATT
is the Company’s first commercial-grade, turn-key electric tethered drone
designed to provide secure and reliable aerial monitoring for extended
durations utilizing a high strength armored tether connected to the ground.
Unlike "hobbycraft” drones, WATT is uniquely suited for a wide number of
news gathering, industrial and emergency response applications where manned aircraft
and even free-flying drones are unable to deliver the long flight duration and
commercial grade real-time day or night video monitoring capabilities needed.
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About
Drone Aviation Holding Corp.
Drone
Aviation Holding Corp. (OTCQX: DRNE) develops and manufactures cost-effective,
compact and rapidly deployable aerial platforms including lighter-than-air
aerostats and electric-powered drones designed to provide government and
commercial customers with enhanced surveillance and communication capabilities.
Utilizing a proprietary tether system, the Company’s products are designed to
provide prolonged operational duration capabilities combined with improved
reliability, uniquely fulfilling critical requirements in military, law
enforcement and commercial and industrial applications. For more information
about Drone Aviation Holding Corp. please visit www.DroneAviationCorp.com
or view our reports and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
http://www.sec.gov, including the Risk Factors included in our Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, as well as information
about the Company in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on
Form 8-K.