Top secret US spy drone captured by Iran

[NathanE]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-16098562

Not been a good year for USA black project technology has it?!

 

[NathanE]

How did they down it without damage? EMP? or did the Yanks just pilot it into the ground and went for the slightly less embarrassing cover story of it being shot down?

The rumour is that Iran jammed its signal. The drone went into safe mode which basically involves, metaphorically at least, flying in circles until the signal comes back. It went on so long that it ran out of fuel and then glided itself to a soft landing.

Apparently the USA was sending a "team" to destroy it but Iranian soldiers got there first.

 

[NathanE]

PRobably the GPS signal was jammed. When th UAV does not know where it is it will circle until the fuel is low and then land gently, not much else can be dene.

The MAVs I ahve worked with before did this.

But why not have a backup like G-sensors (which is what many SatNav products have). At least then, although not as accurate as GPS, the UAV can keep a rough idea of where it is heading etc.

The thing with jamming is, you can only do it over a certain radius. And so a UAV should be programmed to automatically try to "escape" this radius if it finds itself being jammed.

Whichever way you look at it... whilst I'm sure the hardware is top notch. The software side of these UAVs is clearly lacking!