Hydra Technologies Ehécatl

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Hydra Technologies Ehécatl
S4ehecatl1.jpg
The S4 Ehécatl in take-off mode
Role Unmanned aerial vehicle
Manufacturer Hydra Technologies of Mexico
DesignerHydra Technologies of Mexico
CONACYT
National Polytechnic Institute
Autonomous University of Guadalajara
ITESO
First flight2006
Introduction2006
StatusActive
Primary user Mexican Secretariat of Public Security

The S4 Ehécatl is an unmanned aerial vehicle developed and manufactured by Hydra Technologies of Mexico which, except for its infrared thermal sensor system, is the first of its type to be completely designed and manufactured in Mexico. It is named after Ehecatl, the Aztec god of the wind. [1]

Unmanned aerial vehicle Aircraft without a human pilot aboard

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), commonly known as a drone, is an aircraft without a human pilot onboard. UAVs are a component of an unmanned aircraft system (UAS); which include a UAV, a ground-based controller, and a system of communications between the two. The flight of UAVs may operate with various degrees of autonomy: either under remote control by a human operator or autonomously by onboard computers.

Mexico country in the southern portion of North America

Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and to the east by the Gulf of Mexico. Covering almost 2,000,000 square kilometres (770,000 sq mi), the nation is the fifth largest country in the Americas by total area and the 13th largest independent state in the world. With an estimated population of over 120 million people, the country is the eleventh most populous state and the most populous Spanish-speaking state in the world, while being the second most populous nation in Latin America after Brazil. Mexico is a federation comprising 31 states and Mexico City, a special federal entity that is also the capital city and its most populous city. Other metropolises in the state include Guadalajara, Monterrey, Puebla, Toluca, Tijuana and León.

Ehecatl deity

Ehecatl is a pre-Columbian deity associated with the wind, who features in Aztec mythology and the mythologies of other cultures from the central Mexico region of Mesoamerica. He is most usually interpreted as the aspect of the Feathered Serpent deity as a god of wind, and is therefore also known as Ehecatl-Quetzalcoatl. Ehecatl also figures prominently as one of the creator gods and culture heroes in the mythical creation accounts documented for pre-Columbian central Mexican cultures.

Contents

Overview

A prototype of the airplane was presented in the Paris Air Show at Le Bourget on June 19, 2007. In August 2007 at Washington D.C., a full-scale model was exhibited at the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) symposium, an aeronautics exposition with over 275 exhibitors. At the conclusion of the AUSVI symposium Hydra Technologies became the first non-U.S. recipient of the AUSVI's 'Al Aube Outstanding Contributor Award' for the development of the S4 Ehécatl UAS (Unmanned Aerial System). [2]

Paris Air Show trade fair

The Paris Air Show is the largest aerospace-industry exhibition type Air Show in the world, measured by number of exhibitors and size of exhibit space. In second place is UK's Farnborough, followed by Dubai Air Show or Singapore Airshow. The latest was the 52nd Air Show, held from 19 to 25 June 2017, attended by 3,450 journalists, 142,000 professionals and 180,000 general public visitors. It claims to be the world's calendar-oldest air show. Established in 1909, it has been held every odd year since 1949 at Paris–Le Bourget Airport in north Paris, France.

In 2008, Hydra Technologies received the Leonardo da Vinci award, given by the International Aeronautics Congress of Mexico (CIAM for its Spanish abbreviation) for the development of the S4 Ehácatl, as well as the E1 Gavilán. [3]

On August 3, 2008, the State of Jalisco and Coecytjal presented Hydra with an award in the 29th Annual National Convention of the National Chamber of Electronics, Telecommunications and Informatics Industry (CANIETI), for its contribution to the informatics, microelectronics and communications industries in Mexico.[ citation needed ]

Description

The S4 Ehécatl is an aerial unmanned surveillance system whose development began in 2002. Its principal market is directed towards providing security and surveillance capabilities in support of the Armed Forces, as well as civilian protection in hazardous situations. Because of its small size and unmanned nature, it can enter dangerous zones without being detected. [2] [4]

Surveillance monitoring of behavior, activities, or other changing information

In espionage and counterintelligence, surveillance is the monitoring of behavior, activities, or other changing information for the purpose of influencing, managing, directing, or protecting people. This can include observation from a distance by means of electronic equipment or interception of electronically transmitted information. It can also include simple no- or relatively low-technology methods such as human intelligence agent and postal interception. The word surveillance comes from a French phrase for "watching over" and is in contrast to more recent developments such as sousveillance.

Apart from a U.S.-made FLIR infrared thermal sensor system, all of the S4 Ehécatl's componentry and avionics are designed, developed and manufactured in Mexico by the firm Hydra Technologies. [2] [3] [5] The S4 Ehécatl has an electronic system that is designed to provide up to eight hours of autonomous flight, in either daytime or nighttime conditions. The craft is controlled from a mobile central facility installed in a specially equipped three-man ground vehicle. [6]

Avionics electronic systems used on aircraft, artificial satellites, and spacecraft

Avionics are the electronic systems used on aircraft, artificial satellites, and spacecraft. Avionic systems include communications, navigation, the display and management of multiple systems, and the hundreds of systems that are fitted to aircraft to perform individual functions. These can be as simple as a searchlight for a police helicopter or as complicated as the tactical system for an airborne early warning platform. The term avionics is a portmanteau of the words aviation and electronics.

The surveillance capabilities of the UAV was suggested as an option to survey of the border problems between the U.S. and Mexico. [2] The project developing the craft is a joint effort of the Mexican Federal Government, the Financial Sector, and Mexican academic and scientific institutions like CONACYT, the National Polytechnic Institute (IPN), the Autonomous University of Guadalajara and the Western Institute of Technology and Higher Education (ITESO). [3] [4]

Specifications

General characteristics

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 167 km/h; 104 mph (90 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 70 km/h; 44 mph (38 kn)
  • Endurance: 8h
  • Service ceiling: 4,572 m (15,000 ft)

Avionics
General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems

Operators

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References

  1. ↑ Wimmer, Alexis (2006). "Dictionnaire de la langue nahuatl classique" (in French). Retrieved 2007-09-11.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Hydra Technologies (2007-09-07). "Hydra Technologies Surprises UAV Industry with Mexican-Made System, Earns Coveted Award at AUVSI's Unmanned Systems North America 2007 Show in D.C." (press release). News & Information. PR Newswire . Retrieved 2007-09-11.
  3. 1 2 3 Carballo, Nurit Martínez (13 August 2008). "Vuela alto el Politécnico". El Uniiversal (in Spanish). Retrieved 2008-12-09.
  4. 1 2 "Industrias electrónicas presumen expansiones" (in Spanish). Milenio. 2008-11-18. Retrieved 2008-12-09.
  5. ↑ Hydra Technologies Surprises UAV Industry with Mexican-Made System
  6. ↑ War planes, Mexico rolls its own
  7. ↑ Martínez Carballo, Nurit (2008-08-13). "Vuela alto el Politécnico" (in Spanish). El Universal. Retrieved 2008-08-13.


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