IA-3 Colibrì
IDS · Italy · also known as IA-3 COLIBRÌ · Updated
IA-3 Colibrì is a micro-class vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle developed by IDS of Italy. Built around a carbon-fibre airframe that can be reconfigured for different missions, it is marketed for reconnaissance, inspection, survey and search-and-rescue work by both military/law-enforcement and civilian users.
Overview
IDS, the Pisa-based engineering group now part of Fincantieri NexTech, positions the IA-3 Colibrì as the micro-UAV end of its unmanned-aircraft line, alongside the larger fixed-wing IA-17 Manta. The manufacturer describes the Colibrì's modular carbon-fibre structure, foldable arms and interchangeable payload kits as letting a single airframe cover reconnaissance, environmental monitoring, infrastructure inspection, photogrammetry and search-and-rescue roles rather than requiring a different aircraft for each task.
Design and capabilities
The Colibrì is a four-rotor VTOL multicopter with an 810 mm diameter and 280 mm height, weighing 2.2 kg empty and up to 5.0 kg at maximum take-off, with a payload of up to 1.0 kg (0.5 kg recommended). Four 660 W brushless rotors are powered by a 6S, 10 Ah lithium-polymer battery that IDS says recharges in about 45 minutes, giving an endurance of up to 40 minutes with a 0.5 kg payload. IDS states a flight radius of more than 1 km and an encrypted data link range of up to 20 km, a horizontal speed above 60 km/h, and a climb rate of ±6 m/s in autopilot mode. The aircraft is rated IP65 for water resistance, operates from −10°C to +45°C and in winds up to 12 knots (18-knot gusts), and IDS lists a service ceiling of 500 m and a maximum take-off altitude of 2,000 m. IDS states the aircraft is ready for operation in under 10 minutes.
Standard sensors are a three-axis gimbal in the aircraft's front dome carrying a full-HD video camera with 20.4-megapixel stills and 30x optical zoom, plus a belly-mounted thermal sensor, rated IP67, that pivots through 100 degrees and can tilt from +35° to −90° for underwater observation. IDS also offers a reconnaissance sensor package (a thermal imager plus a 10x-zoom electro-optical camera on a stabilised gimbal) and a mapping package built around a 16-megapixel APS-C camera with geo-referencing sensors.
Use cases
IDS markets the IA-3 Colibrì to military and law-enforcement users for reconnaissance and surveillance, and to civilian users for monitoring, inspection, survey and photography work, as well as urban search-and-rescue missions where its small size and VTOL capability let it reach confined or otherwise inaccessible locations.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the IA-3 Colibrì?
It has an 810 mm diameter and a maximum take-off weight of 5.0 kg (2.2 kg empty).
How long can it fly?
IDS states an endurance of up to 40 minutes with a 0.5 kg payload.
What is its range?
IDS states an encrypted data-link range of up to 20 km and a flight radius of more than 1 km.
What powers the IA-3 Colibrì?
Four 660 W brushless rotors driven by a 6S, 10 Ah lithium-polymer battery.
Who makes the IA-3 Colibrì?
IDS of Pisa, Italy, which also builds the larger fixed-wing IA-17 Manta.
