Lawrence Hargrave: Australian Aviation Pioneer

Aerobotics^© at Monash University

This is a 'storyboard' version of a downloadable video which provides brief overview of the methods and equipment used in Monash University - Aerosonde 'Aerobotics'® Research programme.

Please note : The size of the video is some 8Mb and is best accessed via a high speed connection to the Internet. You will also need to have Quicktime4 installed on your computer to view the video.

More details on the 'Aerobotics'® programme and the Aerosonde robotic aircraft used in this programme are available at the end of this webpage.

For those new to this programme, it is important to note that the 'Monash' Aerosonde (a Mk1), unlike the current (Mk.3) autonomous production model flies under model aircraft regulations rather than those imposed by the Civil Aviation Authority

Although limiting the craft to a ceiling of 300 feet, flying under 'manually directed' model aircraft regulations, allows the Monash team to conduct trials at times to suit the sometimes irregular 'academic' schedule. This less formalised trials activity is also made possible via a relationship established with VARMS who allow the Monash team the use of their nearby flying field

It is worth noting that in 1998, 'Laima', a sister craft to Monash's Aerosonde 'Lawrence Hargrave', was the first robotic aircraft to fly the Atlantic Ocean.