Enhanced ‘drone cockpit’ gives pilots better view of battlefield
The Cockpit Block 50 Ground Control Station gives drone pilots a better view of the battlefield and the option to fly the aircraft using a video game-like controller.
The system gives drone pilots a more comprehensible view of the large amount streaming data coming in.
A new enhanced “drone cockpit” looks more like a gamer’s paradise and less like a tactical battle station.
The enhanced cockpit by drone-maker General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, called the Cockpit Block 50 Ground Control Station, not only affords pilots a better view of the battlefield, but also makes it easier to fly the drones and operate their weapons systems, Defense Tech reports.
The system is outfitted with six 24-inch high-definition touch screens that provide a 120-degree view of the battlefield, a video game-like controller, and a keyboard so the operator can chat and message.
The Cockpit Block 50 Ground Control Stations gives pilots a comprehensible view of the vast amount of streaming information, including live video and live 3D rendered maps, air traffic information, and a dedicated screen for chatting.
Pilots can fly the drones via the traditional stick and throttle method, or, when their hands get tired after a lengthy mission, they can switch over to the video game-esque controller.
Christopher Ames, the company’s director of international strategic development, said, “There’s really no ground station in the world like this today.”
[ Defense Tech ]
Read More On:
Latest Reviews
-
Winchester Model 100 in .243 Win Stands the Test of Time
Every now and then I happen upon a neat little rifle I’ve never heard of, like this Winchester Model 100. Let's see if this mid-century deer hunter chambered in .243 Winchester still has what it takes.
Read More -
Palm Full of Parabellum: A Review of the 9mm Bond Arms Stubby
Texas-based Bond Arms, the country's go-to maker of double-barreled derringer-style handguns in usable calibers, recently introduced an ultra-compact new 9mm-- the aptly named Stubby.
Read More -
.243 Winchester: Spicy Short-Action Cartridge with Staying Power
The short-action .243 Winchester is a long-lasting, incredibly versatile chambering, but is it still relevant in a world of newer 6mm cartridges? Let's dig in and find out.
Read More -
Spanish Astra 600 Review: Funky Retro Sci-Fi Pistol from WWII
Even though the Astra 600 may look like it came straight out of a 1950s sci-fi comic book, it’s actually a gun with a lonely history that goes back to the Nazi occupation of France in World War II.
Read More
