Insitu
Encyclopedia
Insitu, Inc. is an American company headquartered in Bingen, Washington
that builds Unmanned aerial vehicle
s (UAV). On July 22, 2008, it was announced that Insitu would be acquired by long-time partner Boeing
.
, which means "in place", referring to the ability of the aircraft to make tight orbits in specific locations, but also to be able to do certain reconnaissance in place of actual people.
because Insitu's are launched by a pneumatic catapult
launcher, and are recovered by flying the UAVs into a vertically suspended cable which captures the aircraft by hooks located at the end of the wings. This allows the aircraft to be launched and recovered from a truck
, zodiac
, small ship, or other area where a traditional runway is unavailable or impractical.
The aircraft can be configured to operate autonomously, or operated using telepresence. However, landings are always performed autonomously, as the aircraft require specific angles and speeds to make a successful landing.
Bingen, Washington
Bingen is a city in Klickitat County, Washington, United States. The population was 712 at the 2010 census, a 6% increase over the 2000 census.-History:Bingen was founded by P.J. Suksdorf in 1892, and named by him for Bingen am Rhein in Germany...
that builds Unmanned aerial vehicle
Unmanned aerial vehicle
An unmanned aerial vehicle , also known as a unmanned aircraft system , remotely piloted aircraft or unmanned aircraft, is a machine which functions either by the remote control of a navigator or pilot or autonomously, that is, as a self-directing entity...
s (UAV). On July 22, 2008, it was announced that Insitu would be acquired by long-time partner Boeing
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
.
History
Insitu originally designed its UAVs for use by commercial fishermen to track schools of fish, and reduce the time required to make a sufficient catch. The name Insitu come from the Latin phrase In SituIn situ
In situ is a Latin phrase which translated literally as 'In position'. It is used in many different contexts.-Aerospace:In the aerospace industry, equipment on board aircraft must be tested in situ, or in place, to confirm everything functions properly as a system. Individually, each piece may...
, which means "in place", referring to the ability of the aircraft to make tight orbits in specific locations, but also to be able to do certain reconnaissance in place of actual people.
Technical information
Unlike most other UAVs, those produced by Insitu do not require a runwayRunway
According to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...
because Insitu's are launched by a pneumatic catapult
Catapult
A catapult is a device used to throw or hurl a projectile a great distance without the aid of explosive devices—particularly various types of ancient and medieval siege engines. Although the catapult has been used since ancient times, it has proven to be one of the most effective mechanisms during...
launcher, and are recovered by flying the UAVs into a vertically suspended cable which captures the aircraft by hooks located at the end of the wings. This allows the aircraft to be launched and recovered from a truck
Truck
A truck or lorry is a motor vehicle designed to transport cargo. Trucks vary greatly in size, power, and configuration, with the smallest being mechanically similar to an automobile...
, zodiac
Zodiac Group
Zodiac, which became Zodiac Aerospace in 2007, is a French corporation, specialized in the production and development of on-board systems, safety systems and cabin interiors...
, small ship, or other area where a traditional runway is unavailable or impractical.
The aircraft can be configured to operate autonomously, or operated using telepresence. However, landings are always performed autonomously, as the aircraft require specific angles and speeds to make a successful landing.
Current products
- Boeing ScanEagle - In Partnership with BoeingBoeingThe Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
- Insitu NightEagle
- Insitu Integrator On July 30, 2010 it was reported that Insitu won the STUAS Tier II contract with its Integrator product. The contract was estimated to offer the potential for over $0.5 billion in orders beginning in 2013. It was designated RQ-21A.
Former products
- AerosondeInsitu AerosondeThe Aerosonde is a small unmanned aerial vehicle designed to collect weather data, including temperature, atmospheric pressure, humidity, and wind measurements, over oceans and remote areas. The Aerosonde was developed by Insitu, and is now manufactured by Aerosonde Ltd, which is a strategic...
- A weather tracking system, spun off as Aerosonde LtdAerosonde LtdAerosonde Ltd is an Australian-based developer and manufacturer of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, including the Insitu Aerosonde series. The company has customers in Australia, Asia and North America who utilize its vehicles for reconnaissance and meteorological applications.The company gained... - SeaScan - A system to track fish (typically tuna) to reduce the time required at sea, and to prevent the catching of Dolphins. SeaScan is the basis for ScanEagle, Insight, and GeoRanger.
- Insight - Insitu owned version of ScanEagle