HD55 gimbaled camera system tested for tactical UASs
NewsMay 19, 2020
HOOD RIVER, Ore. Trillium Engineering, company specializing in gimbaled camera systems for small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), announced that it has begun airborne testing of its lightweight, high-definition HD55 system.
Designed for use on Group 2 and smaller Group 3 UAS, the HD55 employs electro-optical (EO) and cryogenically cooled mid-wave infrared (MWIR) cameras, as well as an onboard image processor. The gimbal is 5.5 inches in diameter and weighs 1750 grams.
According to the company, the HD55 replaces the end-of-life HD50, which came in four configurations and was first delivered to customers in November 2014. Trillium officials say the HD50-MV was the smallest cooled MWIR gimbaled camera system on the market.
The company also claims that the new HD55 will have the same swept volume as its predecessor but will be slightly lighter and more capable than the HD50. Trillium personnel have been flight testing the HD55 on various airborne platforms, including a small multi-rotor drone and a manned Cessna aircraft, which serves as a surrogate for a fixed-wing tactical UAS.
