Propulsion
Ricardo, Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of Ricardo plc, has announced the formation of a strategic business alliance with XRD Inc. and NW UAV to design, develop and manufacture a family of heavy-fuel engine solutions for unmanned systems. Branded Wolverine, the new engine line combines Ricardo’s engineering expertise with
Propulsion
Systems designers at Elbit Systems of America LLC in Fort Worth, Texas, and at Lockheed Martin Corp. in Eagan, Minn., will develop a green hybrid propulsion system running on renewable energy for small UAS as part of initial phase of the U.S. Air Force Small Unmanned Renewable enerGy long
Propulsion
LaserMotive will be showcasing examples of its wireless power system for unmanned aircraft, including models of electric helicopters and aircraft, at the SPIE Defense, Security and Sensing Exhibition April 26-29 in Orlando, Florida. LaserMotive is an independent R&D company specializing in laser power beaming and winner of the
Propulsion
AME Unmanned Air Systems announced the successful first flight of the Fury 1500 Small Tactical Unmanned Aerial System (STUAS) powered by a heavy-fuel engine. The successful flight occurred April 5 at the Fort Hunter Liggett range on California's central coast. This latest upgrade to the Fury, developed at
Military
ADA Technologies, Inc. has received a $750,000 contract from the U.S. Air Force for research on an innovative nano-material-enabled power system for use in small to micro Unmanned Aircraft Systems. Specifically, ADA will create a high performance, cost effective and easy-to-manufacture lithium-ion battery that meets the power generation
Propulsion
Stuttgart-based Festo claims to be inspired by nature, having deciphered bird flight with its Smart Bird. The ‘bird’ is highly aerodynamically efficient, even turning its head like real gulls do to refine aerobatic turns, and can take off and land by itself. Inspired by the herring gull, the Smart Bird
Research
The Hyperion project at the University of Colorado is to conceive, design, integrate, and operate a 3 meter wingspan and 1.25 meter max chord flying wing airframe with a parallel hybrid propulsion system. It will be showcased at the Aerospace Engineering Department’s Design Symposium on April 15. The
Propulsion
The official Iranian news service, the Fars News Agency has announced that the Islamic Republic has built an unmanned flying saucer. Quote from the release: "The unmanned flying saucer, named "Zohal", was unveiled in a ceremony attended by Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali
Research
Newcastle University engineers in the UK will help QinetiQ build a monster, record-breaking solar-powered plane under a project jointly funded by Boeing and the US Government. The unmanned SolarEagle aircraft fitted with solar panels will be able to stay in the air at an altitude of more than 18km for
Propulsion
Hirth Motors (Goebler-Hirthmotoren KG) has been working with Saab on the propulsion system for Saab’s Skeldar V-200. The power plant is Hirth’s 3503 EFI engine - a 625cc water cooled in-line 2-stroke engine with electronic fuel injection (EFI) producing 60 hp (44 kW). This is the same engine
Military
Pratt & Whitney’s F100-PW-220U engine and exhaust system powered the first flight of the Navy / Northrop Grumman X-47B flight test aircraft for the U.S. Navy’s Unmanned Combat Air System Carrier Demonstration (UCAS-D) programme. The F100-PW-220U engine is capable of providing up to 16,000 pounds of thrust
Business
UK’s Ultra Electronics started the year with two US acquisitions: Adaptive Materials (AMI) for $23 million cash plus another $5 million based on future performance, and 3e Technologies International, for $30 million. AMI designs and makes propane fuel cells suitable to power small UAs demanding 50W-300W power, and 3e