AeroVironment facts for kids
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| Public | |
| Traded as |
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| Industry |
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| Founded | 1971 |
| Founder | Paul B. MacCready Jr. |
| Headquarters | Arlington, Virginia, United States |
| Revenue |  US$446 million (2022) |
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Operating income
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 US$−10 million (2022) |
| US$−4.2 million (2022) |
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| Total assets | US$914 million (2022) |
| Total equity | US$608 million (2022) |
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Number of employees
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1,214 (2022) |
AeroVironment, Inc. is an American company that designs and builds awesome flying machines, especially unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), also known as drones. They are based in Arlington, Virginia. A clever designer named Paul B. MacCready Jr. started the company in 1971.
AeroVironment is famous for making lightweight aircraft that can fly using human power or solar power. They are a top supplier of small drones to the US military. Some of their well-known drones include the Raven, Switchblade, Wasp, and Puma models.
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Amazing Flying Machines and Vehicles
AeroVironment has built many incredible vehicles over the years. Here are some of them:
- Gossamer Condor: This was the very first airplane to fly successfully using only human power! It won a big prize in 1977 and is now on display at the US National Air and Space Museum (NASM).
- Gossamer Albatross: In 1979, this human-powered plane flew 23 miles (37 km) across the English Channel. That's a huge achievement! Another one is also at the National Air and Space Museum.
- Gossamer Penguin: This plane was like the Gossamer Albatross, but it used solar power to fly.
- Solar Challenger: This amazing plane flew 163 miles (262 km) from Paris, France, all the way to England, powered only by the sun!
- NASA Pathfinder and Pathfinder Plus: This unmanned plane, built for NASA, showed that an airplane could stay in the air for a very long time using solar power. The Pathfinder was later made bigger and better as the Pathfinder Plus, which you can see at NASM.
- NASA Centurion: This was an even bigger version of the Pathfinder. It was designed to fly super high, aiming for 100,000 feet (30,000 m) altitude.
- NASA Helios Prototype: This UAV used both solar and fuel cell power. It set a world record by flying at an incredible 96,863 feet (29,524 m)! It was meant to be a prototype for an "atmospheric satellite" – like a satellite, but flying in the atmosphere.
- Global Observer: This aircraft made its first flight in 2011. It's powered by hydrogen and has a huge 175-foot (53 m) wingspan. It can fly up to 65,000-foot (20,000 m) and stay in the air for 5 to 7 days!
- Sunraycer: This solar-powered car won the world's first solar car race in Australia in 1987. The second-place car finished two days later! You can see this car at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.
- GM Impact: This was an electric car prototype, designed to show how electric cars could be made for everyone.
Military Drones
AeroVironment is well-known for its small, powerful drones used by the military.
- RQ-11 Raven: This is a small military drone that soldiers can launch by hand. It has a wingspan of 4.5 feet (1.4 m) and weighs only 4.2 pounds (1.9 kg). It sends back color and infrared video to a handheld controller. More than 9,000 Ravens have been delivered!
- Wasp III: A tiny, hand-launched drone that gives a bird's-eye view up to 3.1 miles (5.0 km) away. Over 1,000 Wasp drones have been delivered.
- RQ-20 Puma: This is a lightweight, battery-powered drone that can be launched by hand. It provides aerial views up to 6.2 miles (10.0 km) away. It can fly on its own using GPS navigation.
- Nano Hummingbird: Announced in 2011, this drone looks just like a hummingbird! It's equipped with a camera and can fly at speeds up to 11 miles (18 km) per hour. It can move in all directions and rotate, all by remote control.
- SkyTote: This drone can take off and land vertically (like a helicopter) but also fly like a regular plane, saving energy.
- Switchblade: This is a miniature, electrically powered drone that can be used as a "kamikaze" weapon. It comes in two versions: the 300 for attacking people and the 600 for attacking armored vehicles.
- Snipe: A small quadrotor drone that can be carried and launched by one person for surveillance. It weighs only 5 oz (0.14 kg) and can fly up to 20 mph (32 km/h) with a range of over 0.6 mi (0.97 km). It can take photos or videos day or night.
- Quantix: A drone with a 40 kilometres (25 mi) range and 45-minute flight time. It weighs 2.3 kilograms (5.1 lb) and can fly on its own for programmed missions.
Special Projects
AeroVironment works on many interesting projects.
- In 2023, Israel asked the US Department of Defense for 200 Switchblade 600 attack drones.
HAPSMobile
HAPSMobile is a company that plans to use special high-altitude aircraft as "cell towers in the sky." AeroVironment owns a part of HAPSMobile. HAPSMobile is developing the Hawk30, a solar-powered unmanned aircraft designed to fly very high and provide internet and phone service.
Other Companies They Own
AeroVironment owns Skytower, Inc. This company was created to develop ways to use high-altitude drones as "atmospheric satellites." These drones could act like satellites, but flying much closer to Earth, to relay communications.
In 2002, the NASA/AeroVironment UAV Pathfinder Plus carried Skytower's communication equipment. It successfully sent an HDTV signal and a wireless communication signal from 65,000 ft (20,000 m). This was like having a 12 mi (19 km) tall transmitter tower! Because the aircraft was so high, it needed very little power to send the signal.
In 2021, AeroVironment bought another company called Arcturus UAV, which makes the Arcturus T-20 drone.
Images for kids
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AeroVironment founder Paul MacCready showing a part of the Helios Prototype wing.
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The Gossamer Condor at the National Air and Space Museum.
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The Pathfinder Plus (left) and Helios Prototype (right) at Dryden.
