Developers at the Sakhalin Center for Unmanned Technologies have introduced a quadcopter designed to exit electronic warfare (EW) envelopes quickly. This achievement is reported by TASS, citing the center’s team as the source of the information.
Buttercup, as the drone is called, operates with a distinctive setting: when the aircraft enters a zone where satellites and the radio control link may be compromised, the craft shifts into full throttle. The design is said to trigger a rapid, seemingly random departure from the affected area in order to regain stable control and reestablish communication. The team explains that the drone’s behavior is intended to break away from the EW zone, restoring navigation and command paths as soon as possible.
According to the researchers, established serial quadcopters produced in China generally do not feature this protective mechanism. If communication is lost and the drone’s battery becomes exhausted, such machines typically hover momentarily and then descend, unable to reestablish control.
The Sakhalin Center for Unmanned Technologies noted that the first Buttercup unit has already undergone testing in active operations in the relevant theater. In discussions about its potential use during hostilities, the developers described the drone as suitable for reconnaissance missions and for delivering payloads up to 1.5 kg, expanding its practical capabilities in challenging environments.
Previously, socialbites.ca reported on researchers from Bauman Moscow State Technical University developing a two-layer anti-icing coating for drones, illustrating ongoing efforts to advance unmanned aerial systems in demanding conditions. (Source attribution: Sakhalin Center for Unmanned Technologies; Bauman Moscow State Technical University, both referenced in industry updates.)