For Release: Immediately
Release No. 97-006
NASA Langley Story Opportunities - January 1997
Robotics Helicopter May Offer New Option For Public
Safety. NASA and the U.S. Army have developed a
remote-controlled helicopter that could be used for a wide range of
tasks, such as precision crop spraying, border patrol, hazardous
spill inspection, fire surveillance, crowd security and emergency
medical delivery. Called the Free Flight Rotorcraft Research
Vehicle, the robotic helicopter can carry a movie camera, a still
camera, video downlinks, night vision or infrared cameras. The
prototype helicopters are powered by a modified gasoline engine,
are about six feet long, including the rotor diameter, and can fly
at speeds up to 60 mph. Interviews, video and photos are
available.
Public Affairs Contact: Nicole Forest (757) 864-5036
X-33
Wind Tunnel Testing Continues at NASA Langley. A composite
model of the next generation of space transportation, the X-33
reusable launch vehicle, is being tested in NASA Langley’s
22-Inch Mach 20 Helium Tunnel. These tests will give Lockheed
Martin engineers high Mach number entry aerodynamics that are
necessary to design an aerospace vehicle for hypersonic flight. The
helium tunnel was chosen because models can be fabricated of wood
or plastic. Interviews and photos are available.
NASA HQ Public Affairs Contact: Jim Cast (202) 358-1779
NASA Langley Public Affairs Contact: Ann Gaudreaux (757)
864-8150
Lockheed Martin Public Affairs Contact: Jerry Rising (805)
572-3190
NASA Langley Supports Local School in National Robotics
Competition. Students at Phoebus High School, Hampton, are
building a robot for a national competition with help from NASA.
NASA has given the group of 32 students $30,000 to participate in
the high school robotics competition, and NASA Langley engineers
will mentor the students for seven weeks. Students must build the
robot from a given set of materials and put it through a series of
obstacle courses during the competition. The Sixth Annual For
Inspiration Recognition of Science and Technology competition is
designed to revitalize American youths' interest in science and
technology. The Phoebus robot will compete regionally March 20 at
Rutgers University in New Jersey. The national competition will be
held April 10 at Epcot Center, Orlando, Fla. Interviews, video and
photos are available.
Public Affairs Contact: Nicole Forest (757) 864-5036
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