Mercator (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles)
Encyclopedia
Mercator is a joint British
/Belgian
remote sensing system utilising a modified version of the Qinetiq Zephyr High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) unmanned aerial vehicle
(UAV) as a platform.
The remote sensing system was designed by the Belgian
research institute VITO
. The system is designed to provide sensing for flood management, disaster relief, fire spotting and environmental and agricultural monitoring. The Mercator was due to fly in Belgium in June 2007.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
/Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
remote sensing system utilising a modified version of the Qinetiq Zephyr High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) 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...
(UAV) as a platform.
The remote sensing system was designed by the Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
research institute VITO
Flemish institute for technological research
The Flemish institute for technological research or VITO, is a research centre, located in Mol, Antwerp, Flanders, Belgium. The institute performs contract research and develops products and processes in the fields of energy, environment and materials, for both the public and the private sector...
. The system is designed to provide sensing for flood management, disaster relief, fire spotting and environmental and agricultural monitoring. The Mercator was due to fly in Belgium in June 2007.