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Perdix Fact Sheet
Perdix Fact Sheet
The Strategic Capabilities Office
PERDIX FACT SHEET
DESCRIPTION
Perdix are autonomous micro‐drones capable of low‐altitude Intelligence,
Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) and other missions. They can be air‐, sea‐
or ground‐launched and operate in both small and large swarms to perform their
missions.
DETAILS
HISTORY WHAT’S IN A NAME?
Propellers: 2.6 in
Perdix was developed by MIT In Greek mythology, the student Body: 6.5 in
Lincoln Laboratory in 2013 based on Perdix was saved from sure death Wing span: 11.8 in
an initial design from MIT’s when Athena transformed him into Weight: 290 g
AeroAstro Department. It has been a small bird after his jealous uncle, Endurance: >20 min
successively upgraded by SCO using Daedalus, pushed him from a tower. Air speed: >40‐60 kts
all‐commercial components, 3D‐ Similarly, Perdix must quickly learn
THE BIG SWARM WHAT’S NEXT?
In October 2016, SCO, Naval Air Systems As SCO works transition to the Services,
Command, and MIT Lincoln Laboratory it is also partnering with the Defense
deployed a swarm of 103 Perdix from Industrial Unit‐Experimental (DIUx) to
three F/A‐18 Super Hornets at China find companies capable of rapidly
Lake, California. This swarm building 1,000 units this year. SCO is
demonstrated advanced behaviors like also working on the “Gen 7” design,
collective decision‐making, adaptive which will likely include more advanced
formation flying, and self‐healing. autonomy.