3/23/2021
`
`IAI Unveils the Ghost - a Miniature UAV For Special Operations
`
`IAI Unveils the Ghost – a Miniature UAV For Special
`Operations
`
`By Tamir Eshel - Aug 8, 2011
`
`The twin rotors create adequate lift within a relatively small diameter (0.75 cm / 2.46 ft), enabling the Ghost to navigate safely near
`obstacles, enter through windows and hover inside built-up areas or penetrate dense vegetation. Photo: IAI
`
`Facebook
`
`Twitter
`
`LinkedIn
`
`Email
`
`More
`
`16
`
`IAI Malat is unveiling the Ghost and Mini Panther, two new vertical take-off and landing miniature
`unmanned vehicles currently undergoing test flights, both are expected to be ready for marketing
`soon. Both vehicles will be displayed at the AUVSI exhibition in Washington next week. The Ghost,
`145 cm long (4.76 ft) vehicle designed specifically to support special operations units and and
`company level infantry operations. Ghost was optimized for operation in built-up areas, rugged
`terrain and dense brushes, typically of the terrain in South Lebanon. As an electrically powered, twin-
`rotor mini-UAV Ghost is capable of operating on missions of about 30 minutes.
`
`The twin rotors create adequate lift within a relatively small diameter (0.75 cm / 2.46 ft), enabling the
`Ghost to navigate safely near obstacles in complex urban terrain including inside buildings. Photo: IAI
`
`Its aerodynamic configuration and twin-rotor propulsion system contributes to high stability in
`hovering mode, and effective station keeping even in strong sidewinds and gusts. The twin rotors
`create adequate lift within a relatively small diameter (0.75 cm / 2.46 ft), enabling the Ghost to
`
`https://defense-update.com/20110808_ghost.html
`
`1/3
`
`APPL-1025 / Page 1 of 3
`Apple v. Corephotonics
`
`

`

`3/23/2021
`
`IAI Unveils the Ghost - a Miniature UAV For Special Operations
`navigate safely near obstacles, enter through windows and hover inside built-up areas or penetrate
`dense vegetation. The twin rotors are powered by two separate, synchronized electrical motors,
`offering some redundancy in case one motor is disabled. In fact, the Ghost designers expect the final
`version to be able to recover back to safe ground using a single motor. The Ghost can travel at speed
`from 35 knots (64 km/h) to zero.
`
`The stealthy Ghost operates quietly in day or night. Its hovering capability provides the user flexible
`view of the area of interest, including a unique horizontal visibility, unavailable with other flying
`sensors. The Ghost weighs only four kilograms (9 lb.) and comes packed in a suitcase carried by a
`single soldier. A system is comprising two vehicles, spare batteries and control station employing a
`laptop computer. Ghost can carry a payload weighing up to 600 gr (21 oz). The current payload
`includes the stabilized daylight MicroCam D from Nextvision, An IR night capable sensor is also
`available at a compatible weight; other payloads are also considered by IAI for future missions.
`
`The twin rotors create adequate lift within a relatively small diameter (0.75 cm / 2.46 ft), enabling the
`Ghost to navigate safely near obstacles, enter through windows and hover inside built-up areas or
`penetrate dense vegetation. Photo: IAI
`
`To support indoor operations the EO system is equipped with mapping
`capability, automatically measuring indoor space perimeters, to
`enable the Ghost safe entry and maneuvering inside a room.
`
`Mini Panther is another electrically powered VTOL UAV developed at
`IAI. Mini Panther weighs 12 kg and is configured for backpack
`operation by a single infantryman. Its mission endurance can reach
`90 minutes, carrying a payload weight of up to one kilogram. While
`capable of automatically takeoff and landing in vertical mode, Mini
`Panther performs its mission mostly in forward flight, a mode
`consuming less power, enabling extended mission endurance.
`
`In 2007 Defense Update reported on an earlier design called ‘DP-6
`Whisper‘, developed by Michael W Piasecki, founder of Dragonfly
`Pictures. The Whisper had similar attributes such as acoustic stealth.
`The Whisper was also proposed to deploy as a persistent airborne
`tethered sensor boosting perimeter security around Forward
`Operating Bases, tethering power from a battery or generator on the ground.
`
`The Ghost, 145 cm long (4.76 ft)
`vehicle designed specifically to support
`special operations and infantry
`operations in built-up areas, rugged
`terrain or the dense brushes of South
`Lebanon, is an electrically powered,
`twin-rotor mini-UAV capable of
`operating on missions of about 30
`minutes. Photo: IAI
`
`https://defense-update.com/20110808_ghost.html
`
`2/3
`
`APPL-1025 / Page 2 of 3
`Apple v. Corephotonics
`
`

`

`3/23/2021
`
`IAI Unveils the Ghost - a Miniature UAV For Special Operations
`
`https://defense-update.com/20110808_ghost.html
`
`3/3
`
`APPL-1025 / Page 3 of 3
`Apple v. Corephotonics
`
`