Graduates of the Faculty of Engineering have helped to develop reconnaissance technology that is now being used by Libyan rebel forces.
According to a news report from The National Post, Libyan rebel forces are using Aeryon Scout Micro UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) to monitor troops led by Muammar Gaddafi. Aeryon Labs, based in Waterloo, employs a large number of Waterloo Engineering graduates among its 25 full-time staff.
The three-pound Scout drone, about the size of a backpack, was designed for desert operations, capable of operating in +50C temperatures and in sandy or wet conditions. It is fitted with an optical camera and thermal imaging system and has vertical takeoff and landing capability. The Scout is also used for law enforcement, fire safety, environmental sensing, and other monitoring applications.