Propulsion
The hydrogen market is always associated with fuel cells and vehicles, but this is actually a tiny portion of the overall hydrogen market. In fact, to use hydrogen in fuel cells and industrial applications, it is necessary to produce hydrogen cost-effectively. The strong potential of hydrogen is driven by the
Propulsion
Airbus has launched “Advanced Superconducting and Cryogenic Experimental powertraiN Demonstrator” (ASCEND) to explore the impact of superconducting materials and cryogenic temperatures on the performance of an aircraft’s electrical propulsion systems. The introduction of superconducting materials can lower electrical resistance, meaning that electrical current can supply power without energy loss.
Business
General Atomics, San Diego, California, has been awarded a $22,164,736 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations (DRACO) - Track A program. Work will be performed in San Diego, California (71%); Louisville, Colorado (19%); Rockville, Maryland (3%); Seattle, Washington (4%); and Cullman, Alabama (3%), with
Propulsion
Cranfield Aerospace Solutions (CAeS) – the UK SME leading the Project Fresson consortium – announces it will exploit recent advances in hydrogen fuel cell technology to develop a commercially viable, retrofit powertrain solution for the nine-passenger Britten-Norman Islander aircraft. Following a rigorous assessment of hydrogen technology innovators, CAeS is delighted to welcome
Propulsion
Insitu, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Boeing Company, has announced new details about its latest efforts to advance hydrogen fuel-cell propulsion for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. First Flight of Hydrogen-Electric ScanEagle3 UAV: In December 2020, Insitu completed the first flight of the ScanEagle3 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) powered by an all-electric,
Propulsion
WiBotic, a supplier of advanced autonomous charging and fleet energy management solutions for the rapidly expanding ecosystem of aerial, mobile, marine, and industrial robots, announced that it has received CE Mark approval for two of its wireless charging systems. CE Marks demonstrate that products traded in the European Economic Area
Propulsion
Aero Development Japan Co., Ltd. is developing a Halbach generator and gas turbine power for heavy and long-distance drones. The company has succeeded in the operation test of the combined hybrid power unit. At the same time, it also succeeded in the operation test of ESC, a motor for high
Military
Orbital Corporation Ltd announced that it has signed a new engine development and supply agreement with Textron subsidiary, Lycoming Engines. The new agreement includes a 12-month engine development program, which will enable the integration of an Orbital UAV-designed core engine, including proprietary fuel and engine control systems, into Textron Systems’
Research
Researchers at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) in Australia have published a study revealing their successful approach to designing much quieter propellers. The team used machine learning to design their propellers, then 3D printed several of the most promising prototypes for experimental acoustic testing at the Commonwealth Scientific
UAM/UTM
Rolls-Royce’s ground-breaking technology is set to power Vertical Aerospace’s flagship Urban Air Mobility (UAM) aircraft. A Rolls-Royce electrical power system will be integrated into the piloted all-electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicle, which will carry up to four passengers for 120 miles at cruise speeds of over
Propulsion
ePropelled, the Massachusetts-based technology company offering leading-edge electromagnetic systems, unveiled the next-generation family of power generation and propulsion products for UAV and other aviation applications. The ePropelled UAV product line consists of starter generators, intelligent power systems, DC supplies, and electronic engine starters that operate with internal combustion engines, and
Propulsion
Honeywell announced that it is developing a power source for hybrid-electric aircraft, planned for demonstration later this year. At 280 pounds, the Honeywell 1-Megawatt generator weighs about the same as a motor scooter but delivers enough energy to power an entire neighborhood block. This generator will be combined with the