Sponsored by The British Robotics Seed Fund
http: www.britbots.com/fund
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29 Feb 24. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) flew the XQ-67A Off-Board Sensing Station (OBSS) for the first time on Feb. 28, 2024. OBSS is an Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) program and GA-ASI was selected in 2021 to design, build and fly the new aircraft. With flight of the AFRL-funded XQ-67A, GA-ASI has validated the “genus/species” concept first developed with AFRL as part of the Low-Cost Attritable Aircraft Platform Sharing (LCAAPS) program focused on building several aircraft variants from a common core chassis. Under LCAAPS, AFRL and GA-ASI explored development of a chassis, termed a “genus”, as the foundational core architecture from which several “species” of aircraft can be built.
“This provides an alternative acquisition approach for military aircraft that enables faster development, lower costs and more opportunities for frequent technology refresh,” said Trenton White, OBSS Program Manager and aerospace engineer in AFRL’s Aerospace Systems Directorate. “XQ-67A is the first “species” to be designed and built from this shared platform. Flight demonstration of this system is a major first step toward showing the ability to produce affordable combat mass.”
“OBSS is the first aircraft type built and flown using a common core chassis developed by GA-ASI that promotes commonality across multiple vehicle types,” said GA-ASI Vice President of Advanced Programs Michael Atwood.
26 Feb 24. ST Engineering debuts its DrN-35DH multirotor UAS. Singapore’s ST Engineering displayed its DrN-35DH unmanned aircraft system (UAS) at the Singapore Airshow 2024 held from 20 to 25 February. The DrN-35DH is an intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR)-capable hexacopter and is a larger derivative of the company’s in-production DrN-15 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). According to the company, the DrN-35DH features improved safety and precise location-tracking capability compared with the DrN-15 enabling the UAS to operate in ‘high-risk’ or densely populated environments. The UAS features six arms primarily constructed of carbon fibre composite material. The propulsion system comprises six electric motors mounted at the end of each arm and each motor drives a two-bladed composite propeller. The UAS has a maximum take-off weight of 37 kg, a maximum payload capacity of 5 kg, a maximum endurance of 37 minutes, and a maximum range of 15 km. The UAS can fly up to a maximum speed of 10 m/s and can sustain flying in windspeeds up to 10 m/s. (Source: Janes)
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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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