-
- News
- Books
Featured Books
- design007 Magazine
Latest Issues
Current IssueAll About That Route
Most designers favor manual routing, but today's interactive autorouters may be changing designers' minds by allowing users more direct control. In this issue, our expert contributors discuss a variety of manual and autorouting strategies.
Creating the Ideal Data Package
Why is it so difficult to create the ideal data package? Many of these simple errors can be alleviated by paying attention to detail—and knowing what issues to look out for. So, this month, our experts weigh in on the best practices for creating the ideal design data package for your design.
Designing Through the Noise
Our experts discuss the constantly evolving world of RF design, including the many tradeoffs, material considerations, and design tips and techniques that designers and design engineers need to know to succeed in this high-frequency realm.
- Articles
- Columns
- Links
- Media kit
||| MENU - design007 Magazine
AV Unveils P550: Autonomous Group 2 eVTOL UAS
October 15, 2024 | BUSINESS WIREEstimated reading time: 2 minutes

AeroVironment (AV) has introduced the P550™ advanced autonomous Group 2 eVTOL uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) designed to set a new standard for battlefield adaptability and operational readiness. Leveraging a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) and AI-driven autonomy, P550 is engineered to empower maneuver forces to quickly respond to evolving mission demands with rapid deployment, scalability, and superior situational awareness.
Unveiled at the Association of the United States Army’s (AUSA) Annual Meeting, the P550’s all-electric powertrain provides flight endurance of over 5 hours and a multi-sensor payload capacity of up to 15 pounds. This endurance and payload capability deliver critical intelligence gathering, precision targeting, and force protection in dynamic and contested environments.
"Warfighters today require systems that can quickly adapt to fluid combat scenarios, providing unmatched reliability and flexibility,” said Trace Stevenson, AV’s senior vice president and general manager of Uncrewed Systems. “P550 meets these needs through an adaptable, field-reconfigurable design that allows rapid, on-the-fly adjustments for evolving operational requirements.”
At the core of P550 is its MOSA framework, enabling seamless integration with third-party payloads, datalinks, ground control systems, and mission software. This open and scalable architecture not only future-proofs the UAS for continuous upgrades but also keeps pace with technological advancements at low cost and risk. P550's standard interfaces allow interoperability with multiple ground control systems providing operators with mission flexibility and compatibility across various platforms.
Purpose-built for rapid deployment in any environment, P550’s modular design features toolless airframe assembly with hot-swappable batteries and multi-sensor payloads ensuring maximum operational readiness. For enhanced lethality, the UAS supports a range of offensive capabilities, including laser designation, sensor-to-shooter functionalities, and proven munitions. Its modular communication architecture further boosts operational resilience by offering flexible datalink options, maintaining reliable performance even in complex, contested environments.
P550 integrates AV’s SPOTR-Edge™ Automatic Target Recognition (ATR) and AVACORE™ software suite for onboard edge computing. These advanced AI capabilities enable the UAS to autonomously detect and classify operationally relevant objects—ranging from personnel and vehicles to aircraft and maritime vessels—day or night, ultimately enhancing situational awareness and tactical decision-making on the battlefield.
Building on AV’s three-decade legacy of delivering reliable, combat-proven UAS, P550 demonstrates a continued commitment to providing intelligent, autonomous platforms that ensure operational superiority. The system’s modular, future-ready architecture allows for continuous evolution, meeting the demands of today’s battlefields while remaining prepared for the challenges of tomorrow.
Suggested Items
OSI Systems Lands $17 Million Order for Cargo and Vehicle Inspection Systems
07/07/2025 | BUSINESS WIREOSI Systems, Inc. announced that its Security division received an order valued at approximately $17 million from an international customer for cargo and vehicle inspection systems.
KYOCERA AVX Releases New 3DB Hybrid Couplers
07/04/2025 | PRNewswireKYOCERA AVX, a leading global manufacturer of advanced electronic components engineered to accelerate technological innovation and build a better future, released a new line of integrated thin film (ITF) hybrid couplers designed to facilitate the continued evolution of high-frequency wireless systems in industrial, automotive, telecommunications, and telemetry applications.
Driving Innovation: Direct Imaging vs. Conventional Exposure
07/01/2025 | Simon Khesin -- Column: Driving InnovationMy first camera used Kodak film. I even experimented with developing photos in the bathroom, though I usually dropped the film off at a Kodak center and received the prints two weeks later, only to discover that some images were out of focus or poorly framed. Today, every smartphone contains a high-quality camera capable of producing stunning images instantly.
IBM, RIKEN Unveil First IBM Quantum System Two Outside of the U.S.
06/24/2025 | IBMIBM and RIKEN, a national research laboratory in Japan, today unveiled the first IBM Quantum System Two ever to be deployed outside of the United States and beyond an IBM Quantum Data Center.
Zero Defects International Partner, Epoch International, Announces Sale on Precision Control Systems
06/21/2025 | Zero Defects InternationalZero Defects International partner, EPOCH INTERNATIONAL, has announced significantly reduced overstock pricing for a large quantity of precision industrial motor, actuator, and sensor control systems.