Trillium Engineering has begun airborne testing of its new lightweight, high-definition HD55 system, which is designed for use on Group 2 and smaller Group 3 UAS.

In a gimbal just 5.5 inches in diameter and weighing 1750 grams, the HD55 system utilizes electro-optical (EO) and cryogenically cooled mid-wave infrared (MWIR) cameras, as well as an onboard image processor.

“At Trillium, we are constantly on the hunt for state-of-the-art technology, and the development of the HD55, the newest addition to our family of gimbaled systems, exemplifies this approach,” says Rob Gilchrist, cofounder and president of Trillium Engineering.

The HD55 replaces the end-of-life HD50. First delivered to customers in Nov. 2014, the HD50 came in four configurations. The HD50-MV was the smallest cooled MWIR gimbaled camera system on the market, Trillium notes.

The HD55 will have the same swept volume as its predecessor, but it will be slightly lighter and more capable than the HD50.

“The HD55 has a narrower field of view than the HD50, allowing the new system to get a closer, more actionable look at targets,” Gilchrist explains.

Trillium personnel have been flight testing the HD55 on a variety of airborne platforms, including a small multi-rotor drone and a manned Cessna aircraft, which serves as a surrogate for a fixed-wing tactical UAS. Company officials say that the next step is to begin testing on the real thing.

“We are already getting interest from major platform providers,” Gilchrist says.