Elbit Systems has unveiled a small unmanned quadcopter designed to locate, identify, and attack enemy personnel. The Lanius has an autonomous mode for take-off, navigation, and scouting. Based on a racing quadcopter, the Lanius is highly manoeuvrable and capable of flying inside buildings. Using the images from its electro-optics and a simultaneous localisation and mapping (SLAM) algorithm, it can gather data to build and update three-dimensional maps of its environment. This capability also enables it to identify doors and windows that it can fly through so it can continue scanning inside buildings. A promotional video shows one detonating behind a gunman firing from a window and another landing to wait for a person to walk through a closed door.
The Lanius can use Wi-Fi or software-defined radio communications. The battery-powered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has a maximum take-off weight of 1.25 kg, a payload weight of 150 g, an operational speed of up to 72 km/h when flying outdoors, and an endurance of seven minutes. The system is also capable of autonomously identifying hostile humans, although insists an attack can only be conducted with the approval of a human operator. It has provided no details of the warhead, saying only that lethal or non-lethal payloads can be carried. Lanius can be used as an individual unit or as part of a swarm using the Legion-X system for controlling multiple unmanned systems.
Key Features
Legion-X compatible
Racer Quadcopter drone frame and motor – high- speed engagement
Navigation and mapping indoor/outdoor/transition
Onboard computing power supporting AI advanced algorithm for collision avoidance/mapping/ classification
Wi-Fi or SDR communication
Highly autonomous tactical sUAS
Part of the Legion-X robotic and autonomous combat solution, LANIUS is a highly maneuverable and versatile drone-based loitering munition designed for short-range operation in the urban environment. The system can autonomously scout and map buildings and points of interest for possible threats, detecting, classifying and syncing to Elbit Systems’ Legion-X solutions. LANIUS can carry lethal or non-lethal payloads, capable of performing a broad spectrum of mission profiles for special forces, military, law enforcement, and HLS. The Legion-X robotic and autonomous system enables control and coordination of a networked group of heterogeneous autonomous systems that can act as a cohesive unit and individually, as part of an overall combat network system.
