Unmanned Systems Technology 007 | UMEX 2016 report | Navya ARMA | Launch & recovery systems | AIE 225CS | AUVs | Electric motors | Lethal autonomous weapons

24 Show report | UMEX 2016 The Wave Relay Radio from New York-based Persistent Systems uses 3x3 MIMO technology with three transmit- and-receive antennae mounted atop the uPoint Robot Radio unit, reducing the probability of signal loss by optimising data transmission across the three redundant streams at 41 Mbit/s UDP and 31.1 Mbit/s TCP. This results in increased signal reliability in environments with little to no line of sight. Wave Relay is currently integrated with iRobot’s 510 PackBot multi-mission UGV, but will eventually be installed on its other three UGVs. When installed on the PackBot, the radio can work over the L band (1.3 GHz), S band (2.2-2.5 GHz) or C band (4.8-5 GHz) and has a comms range of up to 1 km with full line of sight. Should comms be lost mid-operations, the PackBot is programmed to retrace its steps in 50 m increments until the connection is re-established. The uPoint tablet controlling and monitoring the comms and commands running between the user and the UGV is derived from a Samsung product that iRobot has ruggedised, and additionally provides for operators’ use in secure electronic telecoms and real-time broadcast to senior staff. SwissDrones has launched a new version of its flagship SDO 50 Dragon-50 rotary UAS with a redesigned tail to improve aerodynamics and double the maximum airspeed capability. SwissDrones declined to give an exact figure for the current top speed, for reasons of customer and unit safety, but did disclose its own recommended top speed – formerly 20 m/s, now 25 m/s (without payloads). Autopilot and ground station software are programmed not to exceed this new limit. The new tail assembly consists of a horizontal stabiliser with vertical stabilisers on the left and right, positioned halfway down the boom component’s 91.5 cm length, and a third vertical stabiliser off the end of the boom. The intermeshing, semi-symmetrical rotor blades particular to the SDO 50’s design counter any torque and eliminate the need for a tail rotor. The SDO 50 V2 also uses an all-new ground power unit. It has an aluminium housing, weighs 4280 g without cables, and the minimum and maximum power inputs are 88 V and 264 V ac respectively. Its charger output is 8 A (or 230 W) at 29.4 V; as ground power, output is 600 W at 29.4 V. Although the recommended top speed is about 90 kph, 100 kph remains within reason, after what SwissDrones carries out what it calls “extreme tests”, and users may now pilot the SDO 50 V2 at much higher speeds than was previously considered safe, if the need should arise. South Africa’s Denel Dynamics has announced it is testing a new braking system for its Seeker 200 tactical UAS. Until now, the 180 kg fixed- wing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platform has relied on arrestor cables for landing and recovery, but this is no longer considered sufficiently reliable. The success of the anti-lock braking system on the larger and newer Seeker 400 Male UAS was a key factor in the decision. Multiple trials of the 200’s new landing system, based closely on those of the Seeker 400, have already been conducted, although further tests are scheduled. April/May 2016 | Unmanned Systems Technology The new SDO 50 has a redesigned tail to double its maximum airspeed GigaLane’s GaN RF components includes support for S- and Ku- band applications