United Technologies
Piccolo II Autopilot

Piccolo II

The Piccolo II

adds functionality and flexibility for advanced applications including additional I/O for support of payload intensive applications. Key features includes onboard inertial, air data, and GPS sensors, datalink radio, and EMI shielded enclosure. Supports beyond line-of-sight operations using Iridium. Supports operation of a wide variety of UAV's in both fixed wing or VTOL configurations. The Piccolo II uses the same firmware and software as other Piccolo autopilots.

Northrup Grumman Bat Launch Piccolo II Piccolo II
Piccolo II Autopilot

Tech Specs

EMI shielded aluminum enclosure

51-pin vehicle interface micro-D connector

Five RS232 payload interfaces

Sixteen configurable GPIO lines.
Four with analog feedback

Four analog inputs, 0-5V input, 10 bit conversion

CAN: Simulation / General Interface

Flight Termination: Deadman output

VIN: 8 - 20 volts

Power: 4 W (typical - including 900 MHz Radio)

Size: 142 x 46 x 62 mm unflanged
(5.6 x 1.8 x 2.4 inches)

Weight: 226 grams with 900 MHz radio
(7.9 oz)

Operating Temperature: -40°C to +80°C
(Calibrated Range)

Piccolo Nano Autopilot

Radio Options

The integrated Piccolo radio link is available in a range of frequency bands so that integrators can pick the radio frequency that best supports their operational environment. The Piccolo avionics and Ground Station radios must be configured with the same radio.

The 900 MHz ISM radio is an unlicensed radio in North America and Australia. Cloud Cap Technology recommends this radio option for North American and Australian customers not requiring DoD licensed bands.

The 2.4 GHz ISM band is unlicensed in North America, EU countries and other international locations.

Discrete frequency licensed bands with AES encryption options are also available. In the US these bands are controlled by the DoD.

Available Radio Options

900 MHz Unlicensed ISM

900 MHz Australian Band

2.4 GHz Unlicensed ISM

310-390 MHz Discrete

1350-1390 MHz Discrete

1720 MHz Discrete

Piccolo II Autopilot

Software Features

The Piccolo II comes with the Standard Software Feature Set plus Peripherals at no additional charge. The Piccolo SL comes with the Economy Feature Set at no additional charge.

Additional Feature SetsACR Silverfox Net Recovery using Piccolo Software

Laser Altimeter Autoland

DGPS Autoland

DGPS and Moving Net Recovery

VTOL Vehicle Support

Feature Set
Autopilot Advanced Features Supported Limited Feature Set
(Nano Only)		 Reduced Feature Set
( SL and Nano Only)		 Standard Laser Altimeter Autoland DGPS Autoland DGPS Autoland + Moving Net Recovery VTOL
Vehicle
Support
Advanced flight planning.  Allows updates during flight, drag and drop, definition of lost com plan, and automatic landing plans
Supported by full HW-in-the-Loop and Software Simulators
Gimbal stabilization control for servo based pan-tilt cameras
1000 waypoints supported 12 waypoints supported
Support of full range of launch and landing modes: catapult launch, hand tossed, car-top launch, belly land, parachute, wheel landing, net capture Catapult or hand tossed and belly land only Catapult, hand tossed, car-top and belly land only
Support for DGPS    
Support of TASE stabilized gimbal    
Support of MicroAir transponders    
Support of Iridium satellite communications    
Support of external magnetometer to enable dead-reckoning in lost-GPS environment    
Support of Laser Altimeter Above Ground Sensor      
Supports external NovAtel RTK capable GPS for precision navigation        
Support of moving recovery using external NovAtel RTK            
Helicopter Support (tech support provided by CCT partner GST)            
Piccolo II Autopilot

Developers Kit

The Piccolo Developer's Kit provides the items needed to operate the Piccolo in a Hardware-In-Loop (HIL) bench simulation environment. HIL simulation is a cornerstone of unmanned aircraft development. Well-designed simulators allow the aircraft control laws and mission functionality to be tested without risking hardware in flight test.

  •  USB to CAN Module with USB Cable 
  •  Piccolo to CAN Cable 
  •  Programming Cable 
  •  GPS Antenna 114 inches long
  •  900 MHz Piccolo Antenna 
  •  Piccolo Interface Power Adapter Cable 
  •  Futaba Pilot Console with Case 
  •  Piccolo Interface Cable 
  •  Piccolo System Software and Documentation 
  •  Power Supply 
Gimbal Developers Kit USB to CAN Module with USB Cable Piccolo to CAN Cable Piccolo Programming Cable Piccolo Interface Cable GPS Antenna 114 inches long 900 MHz Piccolo Antenna Piccolo Interface Power Adapter Cable Power Supply Piccolo System Software Futaba Pilot Console with Case
Piccolo Developer's Kit with 900 MHZ radio option shown. More radio options available

Piccolo II Autopilot

Helicopter Solutions

Piccolo Autopliots are capable of full envelope automated helicopter flight operations, including take-off and landing (VTOL), precision hover, automated path following and autopilot assisted manual steering modes.

Piccolo based solutions for helicopter and other rotary wing unmanned vehicles are available in partnership with Guided Systems Technologies (GST). GST offers advanced flight control technology that has been proven on a wide variety of unmanned rotary wing vehicles, including single main rotor and coaxial helicopters, tilt rotors, ducted fans, tail sitters and hybrid vehicles.

Guided Systems Technologies

Video

Piccolo Autopilots - Moving Net Capture
Piccolo Autopilots - Moving Net Capture 		Piccolo Autopilot-UAV Helicopter VTOL Demonstration
Piccolo Autopilot-UAV Helicopter VTOL Demonstration 		Piccolo Autopilot - Autonomous Runway Takeoff & Landing
Piccolo Autopilot - Autonomous Runway Takeoff & Landing 		Piccolo Autopilot - Customer UAV Aircraft & Systems
Piccolo Autopilot - Customer UAV Aircraft & Systems
Piccolo Autopilot - Catapult Shipboard Launch & Net Recovery
Piccolo Autopilot - Catapult Shipboard Launch & Net Recovery 		Piccolo Autopilot - Catapult Launch & Net Recovery
Piccolo Autopilot - Catapult Launch & Net Recovery 		Piccolo Autopilot - Catapult Launch & Net Recovery
Piccolo Autopilot - Catapult Launch & Net Recovery
Piccolo II Autopilot

Documentation

  • Complete Product List A complete list of integration, peripherals, and accessory items designed to optimize CCT products and systems.
  • Product Export Fact Sheet A brief description of the regulatory processes required for Cloud Cap Technology to export its products.
  • Steps To Autonomous Flight Outlines the steps involved in configuring, installing and operating the Piccolo Flight Management System. It is very important to read this document first because it provides a guide through other system documentation required to properly set up and integrate the Piccolo system.
  • Radio Communications Troubleshooting Covers basic testing procedures, information, and tools to help diagnose Piccolo radio communication problems.
  • Field Update Microhard Nano Radio Firmware Covers how to check and update firmware versions on Microhard Nano radios installed inside Piccolo autopilots or ground stations to the latest qualified versions.
  • Piccolo System Software Update Guide Covers how to update the Piccolo Autopilot and Ground Station with the latest software and firmware.
  • Piccolo Setup Guide An overview of the Piccolo Flight Management System components. Provides initial setup information for the hardware and software simulation environments to guide users to a functioning laboratory environment.
  • Piccolo Vehicle Integration Guide Provides technical information for installing the Piccolo autopilot into an airframe.
  • Piccolo Servo Gimbal Integration Guide How to setup and configure a non-stabilized, servo based gimbal other than a Cloud Cap Technology gimbal to the Piccolo autopilot using the pan and tilt servo connections available on the Piccolo autopilot.
  • Piccolo External Interface Interface definitions and pin-outs for the Piccolo Plus, Piccolo II, Piccolo SL and Piccolo LT.
  • Piccolo Communications Describes communication protocols that are used by the Piccolo Autopilot
  • Piccolo Interface Cable Cable is included with the Piccolo Developer’s Kit. Provides power, CAN, serial and programming interfaces needed for laboratory setups including HWIL.
  • Piccolo Typical Flight Harness Cable Basic harness that includes control surface outputs as well as power, CAN, serial and programming interfaces needed for aircraft integration.
  • Piccolo SL Interface and Flight Harness Cable Provides power, serial and programming interfaces needed for lab testing and aircraft integration.
  • Piccolo Nano Air Data Harness Drawing of the cable harness used to connect the breakaway air data sensors to the Piccolo Nano avionics board.
  • Piccolo Nano Interface Cable Cable is included with the Piccolo Nano Developer's Kit. Provides power, CAN, serial and programming interfaces needed for laboratory setups including HWIL.
  • PCC User’s Guide (v2.1.4) Operator interface and setup information for the Piccolo Flight Management System using version 2.1.4 software.
  • Piccolo User’s Guide Helicopter Supplement Provides controller information and swashplate configurations for the Piccolo Flight Management System used in helicopter and other rotary wing unmanned vehicle applications.
  • Creating Custom Map Overlays Details the process of locating an image on the map for use as an overlay in PCC or ViewPoint.
  • Antenna Plugin User’s Guide Covers how to setup and use the Antenna Plugin feature for either Piccolo Command Center (PCC) and or ViewPoint for control of a third party positioner.
  • Piccolo Simulator A detailed user’s guide to the Simulator environment and software. Includes guidance on modeling and simulating customer aircraft which is a key element in the steps to autonomous flight.
  • Piccolo Dev Interface A quick introduction guide to the Piccolo Dev Interface application that provides tools useful for system data analysis.
  • SIL and HIL Checklists A quick reference checklist for the Software-in-the-Loop and Hardware-in-the-Loop simulations.
  • Piccolo Software-in-Loop Setup Guide A comprehensive step by step guide to set up the Software-in-Loop (SIL) simulation environment.
  • Moving Net Recovery Information for setting up the Avionics and ground station for Moving Net Recovery.
  • Piccolo Command Center Data Sheet A brief overview off PCC user interface with software options and features.