MITRE Unveils Hopper UAV: Autonomous Drone Poised to Revolutionize Maritime Surveillance
In a recent MITRE article, the organization introduced its groundbreaking Hopper Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle (UAV), a solar-powered drone prototype developed in collaboration with the Office of Naval Research (ONR). The Hopper, engineered for maritime environments, showcases the potential to autonomously navigate vast ocean expanses, presenting potential applications in various missions, including search and rescue, monitoring illicit activities like illegal fishing, and detecting meteorological events.
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MITRE engineers Dave Sheffler and Tyler Paige prepare to launch Hopper for a recent demonstration at Lake Anna State Park in Virginia.
The ONR tasked MITRE with creating an economical, intelligent, and autonomous system able to seamlessly operating across dynamic ocean environments. The result was the Hopper UAV, a product of lower than 24 months of design and fabrication by MITRE engineers.
Lee Mastroianni, program officer for advanced autonomous systems at ONR, commended the MITRE team, stating, “It’s been inspiring to see Hopper rapidly develop from an idea to flight-capable hardware. The MITRE team provided a wealth of insight and innovation in support of our naval objectives.”
Hopper made its public debut on the Office of Science and Technology Policy’s “American Possibilities: A White House Demo Day,” where it was among the many eight innovations linked to national security out of 45 featured. Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks emphasized the importance of such autonomous systems in maintaining a competitive edge against strategic rivals like China.
The Hopper’s design and development involved using computer-aided design (CAD) and advanced simulation software, enabling rapid iteration and the utilization of low-cost manufacturing techniques equivalent to 3D printing. The UAV incorporates small business solar cells on its wings, allowing it to regenerate power during flight and at rest.
The MITRE-ONR collaboration prolonged beyond traditional boundaries by involving students from the U.S. Naval Academy. These students contributed to Hopper’s design, providing useful insights from their operations research Capstone project. The resulting technology goals to enhance existing maritime surveillance platforms at a fraction of the associated fee, reducing the necessity for crewed or expensive uncrewed assets.
Conor Mahoney, MITRE’s expeditionary group leader, highlighted the importance of Hopper’s capabilities, stating, “Where normally you’d should risk a crewed asset or an expensive uncrewed asset to keep up cognizance over a large ocean area, Hopper can achieve this at a fraction of the associated fee—and liberate those other assets.”
Considered one of the standout features of Hopper is its ability to operate in swarms, covering large areas and maneuvering collectively to beat challenges posed by ocean currents, waves, or winds. These swarms enhance maritime surveillance capabilities and will be applied to numerous missions, including signals monitoring, tsunami warnings, and marine-life biological research.
Mahoney expressed optimism about Hopper’s potential impact, emphasizing the continued efforts to reinforce its capabilities, including expanded payload capability, longer flight durations, and shorter times between recharges. In summary, MITRE’s Hopper UAV represents a major step forward in autonomous maritime surveillance technology, with potential implications for defense strategies and civil applications alike.
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