Parrot, a European provider of professional micro-UAVs, has actually revealed CHUCK 3.0, a breakthrough all-in-one auto-pilot that turns any UAV platform into a high-performance system.
The compact system merges AI-driven self-governing flight, a spoof-proof multi-band frequency hopping radio and real-time optical navigation for GNSS-denied airspace.It likewise brings obstacle avoidance and a stabilized three-axis gimbal with day- and night-grade imaging.
CHUCK 3.0 effortlessly incorporates with quadcopter, VTOL, fixed-wing, helicopter, or hybrid UAVs.
It enhances OEM workflows from preliminary concept to mission-ready implementation in a matter of months, with Parrots substantial UAV expertise embedded.Unveiled at the Paris Air Show, CHUCK 3.0 functions a protected long-range ground controller, uses native links for MARS frequency-hopping radio, 5G, LoRa, satellite connection, and exposes its full ability set through an open-source SDK and the Parrot FreeFlight 8 mission-planning suite.
Thanks to its streamlined integration and trusted 100% non-Chinese component base, CHUCK 3.0 lets UAV makers accelerate advancement while strengthening overall supply-chain resilience.Current disputes reveal that safe, high-performance UAVs should be fielded not just much faster in R&D but likewise at commercial scale, states Henri Seydoux, Founder and CEO of Parrot, CHUCK 3.0 responses that require.
It packs fifteen years of Parrot experience into one module, trims development time to a few months and gets rid of any reliance on Chinese parts.
With jam-resistant radios, AI optical navigation and an open SDK in the exact same system, backed by its devoted controller, simulator and FreeFlight 8 mission software, CHUCK 3.0 lets our partners build mission-ready drones at true industrial scale.Rapid, Sovereign Upgrade Path for any UAVTodays drone market counts countless producers, yet most still assemble unsecured, off-the-shelf components and miss the genuine technological improvements.
This fragmentation extends advancement cycles, injects supply-chain threat and leaves reliability unproven.
CHUCK 3.0 breaks that pattern: it provides top-tier autonomy, noticing and protected connection in just four months of combination, versus the multi-year, nine-figure expenses of establishing an equivalent bespoke platform.Every component has actually been sourced outside of China, ensuring supply-chain durability and full compliance with strict defense and government-procurement requirements, a vital requirement for countries seeking technological sovereignty and local commercial leverage.Hardware highlights consist of a 35 optical-zoom payload, FLIR Boson 640 thermal core and a three-axis supported gimbal supported by four robotics-grade sensors.
Along with its jam- and spoof-resistant multi-band (MARS) radio suite, the module can also ship in an autopilot-only configuration for drop-in use with an operators existing RF links.Parrot supports CHUCK 3.0 with a detailed environment of peripherals such as multi-payload ports, night-vision modules and MARS remote-antenna sets.
For night operations, the module is compatible with the Parrot NIGHTVISION module, an optional smart payload developed to extend optical navigation performance in complete darkness.
On the software side, the FreeFlight 8 mission-planning app, Sphinx flight simulator and open-source SDK extend and future-proof the platform, making it the most total, scalable and safe and secure option in the expert UAV market.Quality & & Reliability: Built for Rugged EnvironmentBuilding on 15 years of UAV innovation and eight years of CHUCK concept development, Parrot has combined its cutting-edge smartphone-chipset architecture and AI neural-network-based flight algorithms into an unique module that deals with the quick requirements of expert and defense UAV markets.Engineered to aerospace-grade standards, CHUCK 3.0 couples a ruggedized enclosure with an extensive credentials campaign.
The module and controller endure cold to 40 C, heat to +70 C, IP5X/IPX3 ingress, random and sine vibration, drop and HALT endurance.CHUCK 3.0 was evaluated against numerous EMC test requirements such as MIL-STD-461G and EN 300 328.
It reveals remarkably low radiated and conducted emissions, ensuring absolutely no interference with neighboring avionics.
In resistance trials, versus radiated electric fields as much as 300 V/m, electrostatic discharge and power transients, CHUCK 3.0 kept complete performance, validating functional stability in demanding electro-magnetic environments.Secure-boot chains, AES-256 encrypted links and cryptographically signed OTA updates safeguard every software application release.
All sensitive electronics are sourced specifically from Europe, the United States or NATO-partner countries, offering a totally traceable, non-Chinese supply chain.CHUCK 3.0 Turnkey Integration & & Lifecycle SupportCHUCK 3.0 SDK minimizes integration effort, and Parrots method group stands ready to direct in the vital last-mile combination stage to the OEMs frame.Parrot delivers a turnkey integration program that lets OEMs embed CHUCK 3.0 in less than 4 months, following a standardized five-phase methodology recorded in information for each client.
Each phase (mechanical combination, electronic integration, flight-controller tuning, sensor recognition and last flight validation) includes step-by-step directions, a sign timelines and required flight hours.
A mid-process style evaluation carried out by Parrot at the end of the sensor validation makes sure the module satisfies all specs before flight certification begins.Throughout the life of the task, customers get upgrade notes for the CHUCK firmware, ground-controller software and FreeFlight 8 app, while the starter plan ships with everything required to start work immediately.This structured, tool-rich approach lessens danger, accelerates time-to-air and warranties consistent results across all platforms.Photo: Autopilot C.H.U.C.K.
(Control Hub & & Universal Computer Kit) EVAN ACKERMAN/IEEE SPECTRUMSource: Parrot