Unmanned Systems Technology 011 | C-Astral Bramor ppX | IMUs | Autonomous farming | UAV Turbines UTP50R | London Show report | Advanced materials | Las Vegas Expo report

22 Dossier | C-Astral Bramor ppX control – but in terms of mechanics it was just too complex for use in the commercial market,” says Trost. It was a twin-boom aircraft with a large empennage and 4 m span high-aspect ratio wings. “If you just think about maintenance of all those mechanical parts, there are so many that can malfunction, so your reliability falls.” The next step, based on that experience, was to develop something much simpler: a single-surface aircraft with as few mechanical parts as possible. The result was the BWB configuration with control surfaces limited to a single elevon (combined elevator and aileron) on each wing. The ppX and the other members of the Bramor family have only two control surfaces and associated mechanisms, with professional-grade digital servos from Graupner or Volz, depending on the version. Disruptive propulsion C-Astral chose electric propulsion because it is a disruptive technology that is subject to continuous innovation and improvements, according to Trost, who emphasises that it is also much cleaner than any internal combustion option as no messy fuel, lubricants or exhaust products are involved, and it requires almost no maintenance or operator skill. Electric motors also produce much less vibration than any reciprocating engine, and weigh less. In addition, there is no shift in the aircraft’s centre of gravity as fuel burns off, which can be a challenge for the control systems of aircraft powered by internal combustion engines. For storage and transport, the ppX breaks down into modules consisting of the main body with its integrated electronics, a pair of wings and a pair of winglets. To attach each wing, the operator slides it over the end of a carbon fibre guide rod, applying just enough pressure to click it into place. The winglets are secured by magnets. The vehicle and its ground control system, including the data link and rugged laptop, fit into a pair of boxes small enough to be checked in as airline December/January 2017 | Unmanned Systems Technology The Bramor ppX’s blended wing body design with its cranked delta plan form and high-aspect ratio wings are shown to full effect in this view The ppX’s prominent winglets serve as drag-reduction devices by suppressing the formation of tip vortices and as vertical stabilisers in lieu of a conventional empennage. Unusually, they are attached to the wings by magnets