Unmanned Systems Technology 006 | ECA Inspector Mk2 USV | Antenna systems | Northwest UAV NW-44 | Unmanned ground vehicles | Navigation systems | Lunar X challenge

14 Platform one February/March 2016 | Unmanned Systems Technology Autel Robotics of Washington state in the US has launched a UAV that converts from a vertical take-off rotary craft to a fixed-wing design in flight. In fixed-wing mode, the Kestrel can fly up to 100 km (63 miles) at a top speed of 64 kph (40 mph) with a payload of 2 kg. It has a wingspan of 3.5 m (11.6 ft) and a flight time of 1.2-2 hours from its batteries. It was built by Autel using a design called TRON from German developer Quantum Systems and the Institute of Flight System Dynamics at the Technical University of Munich, Germany. The design uses four rotors, each on a mount that rotates through 90° to provide vertical and horizontal thrust. Researchers at the University of Oslo have gained a Guinness World Record for the largest payload lifted by a UAV. The 77 kg Megacopter (left) has an aluminium and plywood frame that holds eight separate hexacopters to lift a payload of 61 kg, but for only 37 s. The payload weight is a deliberate figure so that the total weight falls under the 150 kg limit for UAVs from the European Aviation Safety Agency. The UAV is powered by 24, 22.2 V lithium-polymer batteries with a total capacity of 5000 mAh, which gives a flight time of 3-6 minutes. The craft is aimed at agricultural applications and will come with a multi- spectral infrared camera to monitor crops when it launches in March 2017. It will cost between $10,000 and $15,000. The makers also see it being used for humanitarian airlifts carrying essential medical supplies. From vertical to horizontal Payload record for Oslo team Multi-mode craft Large UAVs Courtesy of Guinness World Records The Kestrel design came from Quantum Systems in Germany The four rotors on the Kestrel UAV move from vertical for VTOL operation to horizontal in fixed-wing mode