1. What is AeroVironment, Inc?

Building on a history of technological innovation, AeroVironment designs, develops, produces, and supports an advanced portfolio of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and efficient electric energy systems. The company's small UAS are used extensively by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense and increasingly by allied military services to provide situational awareness to tactical operating units through real-time, airborne reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition. AeroVironment's PosiCharge fast charge systems eliminate battery changing for electric industrial vehicles in factories, airports, and distribution centers.


2. What are AeroVironment, Inc.’s main products & services?

AeroVironment develops, produces, sells and supports breakthrough unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and efficient electric energy systems that help our customers succeed.


3. What are PosiCharge Systems? What types of companies or industries are using them?

PosiCharge systems are designed to improve productivity and safety for operators of electric industrial vehicles, such as forklifts and airport ground support equipment, by improving battery and fleet management.

Fast charge technology, which charges a battery with a high electrical current while the battery remains in the vehicle, eliminates the need for frequent battery changing and a dedicated battery room. This approach increases productivity, reduces operating costs and improves facility safety.


4. Please provide a brief history of AeroVironment’s unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).

The market for our small UAS has grown significantly over the last several years due to the U.S. military’s post-Cold War transformation, the demands of global war on terrorism. Following the Cold-War, the U.S. military began its transformation into a smaller, more agile force that fights through a network of observation, communication and precision targeting technologies.

AV’s Pointer in the early 90’s was our first UAS to help fight the global war on terror. Since then AeroVironment’s Raven RQ-11 along with our other UAS (Wasp, Dragon Eye, Swift & Puma) have become an integral part of transforming the military force because they provide critical observation and communications capabilities.

All of our UAS are designed to be man-portable, assembled without tools in less than five minutes and launched/operated by one person with limited training. Our UAS enable tactical leaders to observer the over the next corner, intersection or ridgeline in real-time. By providing this information, our small UAS reduce the risk to warfighters and to the surrounding population by providing the ability to tailor the military response to the threat.

AV is the largest producer of small UAS in the world today, having supplied over 9,000 UAS across all branches of the military.


5. Who uses AeroVironment’s Power Processing systems?

Our Power Processing Systems represent a mature product line of advanced electric load and sink systems that are used mainly by research and development organizations in the public and private sectors to test batteries, electric motors and fuel cell systems. Power Processing Systems customers include many of the world’s largest automotive manufacturers, including General Motors, as well as departments of the U.S. government.

6. What is clean energy technology?

Energy technology that cause little or no harm to the environment.


7. What are the engineering services offered by AeroVironment?

AV actively pursues internally and externally funded projects that help us to strengthen our technological capabilities. We submit bids to large research customers such as Lockheed Martin, the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Army for projects that we believe have future commercial applications. Providing these services contributes to the development and enhancement of our technical capabilities. Our current engineering services include: UAS Advanced Development, Motors, Power Conversion, Fuel Cell Systems, Battery Systems, EV & HEV Systems & Test/Evaluation Services.

8. How is AeroVironment involved in military aircraft?

Our main focus is on the small unmanned aircraft systems and increasingly with the HALE UAVs (high-altitude long endurance). Our small UAS product line, includes Raven RQ-11, Dragon Eye, Swift, Wasp & Puma.

9. How is AeroVironment making a difference in protecting the environment?

By using efficient electric motors and fuel cells in our unmanned aircraft systems and the development of renewable resource systems such as Architectural Wind™, Universal Solar Pump Controller (USPC), and Marine Energy Systems to name a few.


10. Does AeroVironment have engineering career opportunities in the fields of alternative energy and unmanned vehicles?

Yes, all of AeroVironment’s career opportunities can be found on our Career section under “Energy Technology” or “UAS” http://www.avinc.com/careers_listings.asp

11. How does one apply for a job opening at AeroVironment?

A job applicant can apply directly for a job by going to the “Career” section located on our website: http://www.avinc.com/careers_listings.asp  or through various career sites, such as Monster.com, Theladders.com, CareerBuilder.com, etc.


12. Where can I find a list of all the current career opportunities at AeroVironment?

Current AV opportunities can be found at: http://www.avinc.com/careers_listings.asp

13. What makes AeroVironment a great company to work for?

AV’s employees and our corporate culture that encourages applied innovation, where individual creativity, curiosity and passion combine in a collaborative environment to create the future.


14. How long has AeroVironment been in business?

AeroVironment was founded in 1971. We have been in business for 37 years.


15. Please provide a quote from the founder, Dr. Paul MacCready?

“Doing more with much less”
 

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