Unmanned Systems Technology 020 | Alpha 800 I Additive Manufacturing focus I USVs insight I Pegasus GE70 I GuardBot I AUVSI Xponential 2018 show report I Solar Power focus I CUAV Expo Europe 2018 show report

70 Show report | AUVSI Xponential 2018 That in turn means the end-user does not need to add their own position sensors to their flight control surfaces, or carry out any active synchronisation in their flight controls. “As soon as the operator engages the clutch, the servo will drive the arm as per the external position sensor. This improves over the first version of the servos, in which the operator had to synchronise the arm to their sensor themselves,” Juhrig added. WPC (Wonder Process Craft) showcased a surface treatment process for metals which has been used in Japan for some time. The treatment, it is important to note, is not a coating. “Coatings can cause build-ups and dimension changes,” said Izumi Ogawa. “We fire very fine ‘media’ at metal surfaces, at high speed. When it hits the surface, it hardens and compacts it in a ‘micro-dimpling’ effect without dimension change.” The dimples greatly improve oil retention, allowing engine components such as pistons, con rods and crankshafts to move more easily. Other mechanical parts prone to breakages from metal fatigue, such as con rods, gear teeth and springs, are made more durable. The WPC process can be applied to any metal component, even delicate parts such as engine bearings. The treatment is similar in nature to shot- peening, but differs in terms of the size of the media and the impact speeds.​ Flying-Cam, a Belgian manufacturer of helicopter-type UASs, launched its new Discovery unmanned craft at the show. It is designed to provide payload integration similar to the company’s flagship fully electric helicopter, Sarah, but with a much longer endurance. “Discovery has a flight time of 2-3 hours with a maximum payload up to 30 kg,” said Emmanuel Previnaire. “It has been developed with a modular structure in mind to attach whichever new sensors, payloads, avionics components and so on are available.” The UAV uses a single 3.1 m rotor designed using CFD, and features proprietary electronic stabilisation as well as sense-and-avoid radars and optical cameras. A 10 kW turbine running on Jet A-1 fuel supplies the power. Tom West had the news that HFE is to be the US distributor for AIE’s rotary engines, and as such will be offering the full range, including the 225 CS UAV engine profiled in UST 7 (April/May 2016). Also displayed on HFE’s booth was its new DA 70 GenPod. This packages a Desert Aircraft DA 70, 70 cc two- stroke single equipped with HFE’s fuel injection system, with the necessary fuel system, a ‘silent muffler’ exhaust, a 500 W starter/generator and a vibration isolation system. Thus the entire power unit is packaged into a single module ready to slot into a UAV. This is attached to the airframe by four bolts, and all that is then June/July 2018 | Unmanned Systems Technology Surface treated-components using WPC’s process Flying-Cam’s Discovery offers a 2-3 hour endurance for payloads of up to 30 kg The DA 70 GenPod from HFE