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

50 Dossier | AIE 225CS UAV rotary Norton engine, which had been developed in 1986-7 for target drones and displaced 208 cc. Subsequent AIE rotaries will have their own geometry, for smaller and larger displacements, maintaining the use of a single rotor for the foreseeable future, Bailey notes. He adds that simplicity is a key attribute of the 225CS, one that subsequent AIE designs will also embrace. “UAVs are often used by personnel who don’t have a lot of experience of their engines and who have to service those engines in the field in a tent rather than in a clean room with plenty of equipment,” he explains. “So you want to make everything as simple as possible. “In every component we have tried to incorporate as many features as possible in order to reduce the overall parts count as much as possible. That simplicity is important – rotaries in general have a low parts count, whereas our rotaries have a really low parts count.” April/May 2016 | Unmanned Systems Technology Exploded view of the innovative 225CS Power and torque figures for the 225CS UAVs are often used by personnel who have to service their engines in the field, in a tent, so you want to make everything as simple as possible