Unmanned surveillance vehicle

A surveillance vehicle comprising a vessel and a parasail, wherein the vessel comprises:

• a canister having a stowage space in which the parasail is stowed,
• a sail deployer triggerable to deploy the parasail from the stowage space,
• a propulsion device for aerial movement of the vessel to an area of interest,
• a controller ascertaining arrival at the area of interest and triggering the sail deployer to deploy the parasail upon arrival above the area of interest, and
• a collector for collecting visual survey data from the area of interest;
• wherein:
• the vehicle is convertible from a pre-launch condition to a survey condition,
• when the vehicle is in the pre-launch condition, the parasail is stowed within the stowage space and the vessel is sized and shaped for launch from a mortar tube,
• when the vehicle is in the survey condition, the parasail is deployed from the stowage space and the vessel is supported thereby at an altitude of at least 100 feet;
• wherein the propulsion device includes a propeller, and a propeller motor used to drive the propeller;
• wherein the parasail includes:
• a canopy;
• cords connected to the canopy;
• and
• pull lines connecting the cords to the vessel;
• and
• wherein the pull lines are attached to deployment arms within the vessel, to pull and/or pivot the pull lines after the parasail is deployed, to direct travel of the vehicle.