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UNMANNED SYSTEMS UPDATE

May 21, 2021 by

Sponsored by The British Robotics Seed Fund

 

http: www.britbots.com/fund

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20 May 21. Aselsan Micro-UAV Test Flights successful. The test flights of the micro unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) Saka have been successful, according to Turkish drone manufacturer Aselsan.

Yusuf Ziya Kotil, a project manager from the Turkish defense giant, told Anadolu Agency (AA) that the company is working on unmanned air, land and sea systems.

The Saka system weighs around 600 grams (21 ounces) and utilizes a 3-axis gimbal. It was developed for exploration and surveillance purposes, Kotil said.

“Saka has advantages over existing UAV systems with features such as its small pocket size, easy transportation with camouflage, ability to work in closed spaces, caves and similar environments, and meeting the need for a shorter range of image transfer.”

The company has been continuing to design a mechanism that can meet the aforementioned needs and that can be integrated into different land platforms. The aircraft can take off automatically without the need for manual intervention.

“We plan to outperform foreign products in the market with its customizable flight controller and ground control station software infrastructure, data link system that is resistant to electronic warfare threats, and a herd UAV infrastructure,” he noted.

“At the end of this year, for the first time in Turkey, we will be introducing a version of Saka weighing less than 500 grams with different features, including original flight controller and image processing unit hardware and software, and data link system,” he added. (Source: UAS VISION/The Daily Sabah)

 

18 May 21. South Korea Orders Hydrogen Powered Drones. South Korea’s Defence Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) will introduce hydrogen powered drones to its military pilot operations from November with a new deal with Doosan. The new deal, worth KRW 8.31m ($730,000), will see the hydrogen power pack drones from Doosan implemented into South Korea’s arsenal as it makes a transition to eco-friendly technology.

The drones boast extended refuelling ranges allowing for longer missions in addition to less sound and vibrations compared to contemporary variants showcasing the potential of hydrogen drones in military operations.

These operations could include reconnaissance and covert surveillance with the drones being harder to detect.

South Korea’s Defence Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) will introduce hydrogen powered drones to its military pilot operations from November with a new deal with Doosan.

The new deal, worth KRW 8.31m ($730,000), will see the hydrogen power pack drones from Doosan implemented into South Korea’s arsenal as it makes a transition to eco-friendly technology.

The drones boast extended refuelling ranges allowing for longer missions in addition to less sound and vibrations compared to contemporary variants showcasing the potential of hydrogen drones in military operations.

These operations could include reconnaissance and covert surveillance with the drones being harder to detect.

Ho-Cheon Choi, Director of the Future Electric Power Business Division of the Defence Acquisition Program Administration, said, “The rapid pilot acquisition project contributes to the development of advanced technology and military use by rapidly applying private new technologies to the military for the past year and inducing private investments by private companies.

“I hope that a lot of companies with technological prowess will participate so that we can apply various advanced technologies to the military in the future.”  (Source: UAS VISION/H2 View)

 

18 May 21. Flowcopter Signs MoA with Callen-Lenz for Maritime Heavy Lift Drone. Flowcopter has announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding with Callen-Lenz for the development of a maritime heavy lift drone concept.

The combination of Flowcopter’s unique hybrid drone technology and Callen-Lenz’s field proven flight controller unlocks a game changing heavy lift platform for maritime heavy lift supply applications.

Flowcopter brings a newly developed, lightweight and robust drone technology designed for industrial use cases in aggressive salt spray environments.

Callen-Lenz brings vast experience in manned and unmanned aircraft development and test across all sectors and is a leader in development of safety critical flight control systems for UAS with a strong market presence in the development of future VTOL air systems (Source: UAS VISION)

 

18 May 21. On April 30, Hexadrone unveiled its first serial drone, the Tundra, a ruggedized, multi-functional, modular drone that will be industrially manufactured in a factory under construction in France. The Tundra uses ultrarugged, miniature Fischer UltiMate™ and Fischer MiniMax™ connectivity solutions, able to withstand the harsh environments the drone may need to operate in.

The Tundra in flight.

Resulting from more than three years of development, the Tundra is the first French modular, multi-rotor

drone. Designed in Hexadrone’s workshops in the Haute-Loire in an open innovation logic, this collaborative tool carrier, in its beta version, won the prestigious Red Dot Design Award in 2018.

Unveiled on April 30, 2021 in its serial version, the Tundra is a unique 100% modular, multifunctional

unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), designed and manufactured as a development hub for integrators. The body is equipped with numerous interfaces that allow the integration of accessories, sensors and other modules already available on the market, or the development of new ones. This enables the Tundra to adapt to custom features and rapid changes in the state of the art, which also helps it combat obsolescence. The drone’s arms are interchangeable and easy to remove. The user can choose from three different types, depending on the various missions and flight scenarios planned. With the most durable arms, the Tundra can carry a payload of up to four kilos for a flight time of 30 minutes – a high performance in the world of multirotor drones.

The serial production of the Tundra, made possible thanks to the construction of an industrial building

underway in Saint Ferréol d’Auroure in the Haute-Loire, is the logical next step in this drone’s development that meets the market needs analyzed by Alexandre Labesse, Hexadrone’s Chairman and Founder: “With this multifunctional, modular tool carrier, our customers are opening up the field of possibilities in their collaborative projects and lowering their development costs when they adapt the drone to users’ new needs and new technologies on the market. This is not possible with most of today’s drones, which are designed for a single type of use and quickly become obsolete due to rapid technological advances. In response to obsolescence, we’ve opted for adaptability and durability.”

The Tundra’s durability is ensured through a robust design that allows for intensive use in the field. The

drone is waterproof and can cope with harsh conditions. Moreover, transportation and assembly in the field are easy, as the landing gear can be fitted and the arms screwed on in less than a minute.

Two types of robust, miniature connector for intensive, durable use

To fulfill the drone’s technical requirements for modularity, reliability, durability, ruggedness and ease of use, Hexadrone chose Fischer Connectors’ high-performance, ultra-robust, push-pull connectivity solutions. The Tundra comes equipped with a rugged Fischer UltiMateTM USB 2.0 connector that is waterproof and reliable in all conditions. The standard interfaces can accommodate external modules linked, among others, by Fischer MiniMaxTM connectors and cabling, which optimize the high-density miniaturization of on-board electronics, such as a companion computer, a storage module, a security key or a lidar that the Tundra can be fitted with for certain aerial remote-sensing missions using lasers.

 

17 May 21. Skyborg ACS starts AAAx flight testing. The US Air Force’s (USAF’s) Skyborg Vanguard team has completed initial flight tests of the Skyborg autonomy core system (ACS) aboard a Kratos Unmanned Systems Division UTAP-22 Mako tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

Under Milestone 1 of the Autonomous Attritable Aircraft Experimentation (AAAx) campaign, the ACS performed a series of foundational behaviours necessary to characterise safe system operation. Three flight tests were conducted from Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, between 29 April and 5 May.

The goal of the Skyborg programme is to develop and integrate full-mission autonomy with low-cost, attritable UAV technology to enable manned-unmanned teaming. The Skyborg Vanguard team pairs the Program Executive Officer for Fighters and Advanced Aircraft as the Skyborg Program Executive Officer and the Commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) as the Skyborg Technology Executive Officer. The 96th Test Wing serves as the executing agent for test missions.

The UTAP-22 is a high-performance tactical UAV derived from the Kratos-developed BQM-167A aerial target. The modified UTAP-22 variant used for the AAAx Milestone 1 testing exhibits a revised intake and what appears to be a sensor package.

The first UTAP-22 flight test on 29 April lasted two hours and 10 minutes. According to the AFRL, the ACS “demonstrated basic aviation capabilities and responded to navigational commands, while reacting to geo-fences, adhering to aircraft flight envelopes, and demonstrating co-ordinated manoeuvring”. The test was monitored from both airborne and ground command-and-control stations. (Source: Jane’s)

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The British Robotics Seed Fund is the first SEIS-qualifying investment fund specialising in UK-based robotics businesses. The focus of the fund is to deliver superior returns to investors by making targeted investments in a mixed basket of the most innovative and disruptive businesses that are exploiting the new generation of robotics technologies in defence and other sector applications.

Automation and robotisation are beginning to drive significant productivity improvements in the global economy heralding a new industrial revolution. The fund allows investors to benefit from this exciting opportunity, whilst also delivering the extremely attractive tax reliefs offered by the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS). For many private investors, the amount of specialist knowledge required to assess investments in robotics is not practical and hence investing through a fund structure makes good sense.

The fund appoints expert mentors to work with each investee company to further maximise the chance of success for investors. Further details are available on request.

www.britbots.com/fund

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