Northrop Grumman R-Bat Unmanned Helicopter System

[Triton]

Published on May 8, 2014

The Rotary Bat unmanned helicopter system combines Northrop Grumman's proven autonomous control systems and leading intelligence-gathering capabilities with the Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A.'s proven RMAX remotely-piloted helicopter.

http://youtu.be/MzvdWnFlEZk

 

[Moose]

Wow, Rotary Bat is a really really bad name.

 

[Triton]

Wow, Rotary Bat is a really really bad name.

All the good names were already taken.

 

[TomS]

Makes more sense when you realize that R-Bat is meant to be part of a family of UAVs using the same control systems, which started out with the Bat.

http://www.northropgrumman.com/Capabilities/BATUAS/Pages/default.aspx

 

[Jemiba]

Wow, Rotary Bat is a really really bad name.

But quite good for an appropriate mascot and maybe a nickname !
(bat drawing spoiled from http://altena-online.de/200/ )

 

[Stargazer]

I guess that the guys who will operate these from the ground are bound to be nicknamed the "Batmen"...

 

[Moose]

Makes more sense when you realize that R-Bat is meant to be part of a family of UAVs using the same control systems, which started out with the Bat.

http://www.northropgrumman.com/Capabilities/BATUAS/Pages/default.aspx

If they just called it "RBat" or "R-Bat" I'd say its no worse than several other UAV names. But when they say the full name is "Rotary Bat" my eyes roll damn near out of my head.

 

[Stargazer]

It's a Yamaha marketing device. They already had the R-Max unmanned helicopter before that.