Ah, now you are talking our language. Procerus is the industry standard for MAV control--Lockheed Martin made an easy play for the MAV market by buying them. MicroUAV is in Gaithersburg, MD. If you like this tech, not far from you (Gainesville) is Prioria Robotics:
www.prioria.com/
Watch their Maveric video and see if you like what you see. The Maveric is Procerus Kestral controlled.
ArduCopter is an open source project based on Arduino boards. We have one for testing but, like all open source stuff, the code is twitchy. But it is cheap and uses a real IMU.
It is possible that Argus is already Procerus controlled IMO. Procerus can control multicopter and fixed wing platforms so there is no reason that it couldn't control the Argus--valves and straps are just servos like flaps and rudders. Procerus can control ESC's on multicopters so I suspect it can handle some simple servos. EWA used to own a Procerus-controlled CyberQuad UAV. You could even build a very simple emulator and let Procerus pretend there were ailerons, flaps and a rudder IMO.
Procerus is approved for use in USMil equipment. A Chinese manufactured Arduino board would not be. So, I have just assumed that there was a Procerus flight controller for Argus. But, clearly, George and Eastcor are fully capable of creating a proprietary flight controller--they aren't much more complicated than a sat tracker. The GlobalStar SmartOne has a gyro or IMU and GPS capability. All you need is the flight-controller channel.
Management has an Air Force SBIR on file I sent them for the Micro UAV/robot dispersal idea. But, clearly, they are too task saturated with the BiB to apply. I concur with that call. Argus is unique--plenty of time to push it in 2013 IMO.
Ren, I think you get it--MAV technology opens the door to make BiB and Argus immensely useful IMO. That is a VERY important point IMO. Having some partners (EWA)and potential partners with MAV experience is a good sign for the future, I think. Let's hook up, next time I am down your way! Now you see why I love this tech. Thanks for indulging my enthusiasm, IndyJonesOhio.
