SNAP - Miniature UAV Autopilot

Bring your unmanned system to life in record time

With an easily accessible Matlab Simulink interface, SNAP can be readily programmed to control your platform and onboard systems. At only 36g, SNAP is one of the smallest complete autopilots around. Available as an OEM module or in a sealed enclosure, SNAP has controlled unmanned missions on platforms as diverse as 500mm wingspan electric-powered Micro Air Vehicles, Coanda effect "flying saucers", rocket launched UAVs weighing in excess of 150kg and unmanned sea planes. SNAP comes complete with all the sensors you will need for a range of platform control scenarios.

Capture critical flight data

SNAP’s logging facility let’s you record any parameter to which the autopilot has access. This can be especially useful for platform R&D.

Tame complexity with SNAP–NET and SNAP–Server

The requirements that drive unmanned systems can lead to complexity. Coordinated control of multiple vehicles, distributed control of dozens of subsystems on a single vehicle, and dissemination of telemetry to an arbitrary number of clients on a remote network — these are just some of the challenges addressed by SNAP–NET and SNAP–Server.

SNAP-NET is a network enabled version of SNAP. It allows multiple autopilots to exchange information efficiently, enabling coordinated control of separate platforms over mobile ad-hoc networks, as well as distributed control of physically large systems, where several autopilots may be used as local sub-system controllers.

SNAP-Server is a server program that communicates with SNAP over a datalink. It provides service to any number client programs (including our Ground Control Station) via IP networks. This allows, for example, command of a platform over the Internet.

Integrate diverse systems

SNAP comes with a number of standard interfaces out of the box, but if you need support for a non–standard interface, we can provide interface boards to suit your application. Please contact us for more information.

Specification

Processor 400 MHz Xscale and additional microcontroller for H/W interfacing
External I/F D-Subminiature for power and interfacing; USB
Onboard sensors 3 gyros, 3 accelerometers; absolute and differential pressure; external and board temperature; source voltage
Actuator I/O 8 TTL PWM inputs; 8 TTL PWM outputs
Data I/O 4 serial communication ports; 3 x 16 bit analogue inputs; 12 discrete IOs;I2C bus
Storage Logging and storage on MMC/SD card
Control Law I/F Simulink RTW target