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

76 A mong the show’s key announcements was a deal signed between C-Astral Aerospace and Alta Devices for the latter to supply its solar power technology to C-Astral’s next generation of unmanned vehicles. C-Astral’s Bramor ppX-LRS UAV for example has had its endurance extended by two hours through the integration of Alta Devices’ solar cells, enhancing mission ranges and durations. The cells are made from gallium arsenide (GaAs) using metal organic chemical vapour deposition technology – the same as that used in space-grade solar technology. Alta Devices’ Jason Minnich told us, “Since our founding in 2008, we’ve been focused on commercialising GaAs epitaxial lift-off to make low-cost, high- efficiency solar films. The fundamental ideas have been proven in laboratories for decades, but Alta Devices has developed a high-volume manufacturing facility to produce these solar cells at scale.” The process allows Alta to create a solar cell that is thinner and more flexible than traditional space-faring solar panels by ‘growing’ its GaAs atop a layer of aluminium arsenide, both being III-V semiconductor materials with similar lattice constants. After etching away the grown compounds, what is left is an active solar cell about 1-2 microns thick, enabling installation on UAV wings without affecting airflow or adding significant weight, even after binding in plastics and metals. This trade show and conference in Las Vegas for the commercial unmanned systems market was the venue for some major announcements this year. By Rory Jackson Highlights of the Strip December/January 2017 | Unmanned Systems Technology The Expo was host to 170 booths and 1720 commercial attendees