Aviation Specialties Unlimited (ASU) demonstrated live streaming from its ultra-lightweight observation, wide-area low altitude sensor OWLS day/night gimbaled camera at Heli-Expo. The 1.2 pound microgimbal is designed as a low-altitude system, designed to “see” a man-sized object at a distance of 1,000 feet agl, according to Joe Estrera, chief technology officer for ASU. “OWLS is capable of both daylight and night vision,” he said. The camera's microelectronics can also digitally fuse, pixel by pixel, night-vision with infrared imagery, making it possible see through smoke and other atmosphericobscurations. OWLS rotates 360 degrees and can be fully retracted inside an aircraft fuselage for high speed transit between photo sites.

“We are in transition to production with a target for the summer 2015 for low rate production,” said Estrera. Initial production is expected to be around 10 units per week, initially.

The system will retail for around $50,000 per unit, according to ASU president Jim Winkel. “We see fixed-wing agriculture business where nighttime spraying and nighttime production occurs, there is a market,” he said. He also expects public-use, law-enforcement and firefighting agencies to want OWLS. “We are excited to see the [unmanned aircraft proposed rule], and we are carefully looking at how we think it applies to our technology. You can be sure we'll give that feedback to the FAA,” he continued.