Unmanned Systems Technology 014 | Quantum Tron | Radio links and telemetry | Unmanned Aerial Vehicles | Protonex fuel cell | Ancillary systems | AUVSI 2017 Show report

46 make it ten times more effective than current systems, giving monitoring UAVs far more endurance. The company is working with UAV operator Sky Futures to test the sensor, which uses quantum radar technology. This fires a single photon at a gas pipeline and measures the backscattering of the photons from the quantum entanglement with a photon back in the sensor. A crucial advantage of the sensor is that it is invulnerable to vibration, which allows it to operate at speed, according to the founder of QLM, Dr Xiao Ai. The single-photon detector at the heart of the sensor has been developed by Swiss company ID Quantique, and QLM is developing the software and integrating it into a quadcopter platform. The system has been tested by Deutsche Aerospace, says Dr Ai. Another way to improve endurance is to use a swarm of UAVs, each carrying different payloads, but that means the control and comms technology is key. In one development, xCraft is using network technology from Rajant to allow its x2i Hybrid VTOL UAV to fly in single, swarm or tethered configurations. “The network technology now makes it possible for one pilot to operate many x2i aircraft concurrently, with flight times of 45 minutes,” says Bob Schena, chairman and CEO of Rajant.  “The x2i enables UAVs to cover greater aerial distances than previously while supporting various payloads for video, Lidar and detection of chemicals.” The x2i uses Rajant’s InstaMesh  routing software to provide data links at up to 300 Mbit/s from VTOL aircraft for oil and gas, mining, forestry and agricultural applications as well as public safety. It can fly at speeds up to 90 kph in horizontal mode with a payload of 800 g. “Unlike many other UAVs, the x2i takes off and lands vertically and transitions to forward flight using its high-efficiency wing,” says JD Claridge, CEO of xCraft.  “This, together with Rajant’s wireless network infrastructure, opens the door to applications that would benefit from high- speed, long-range flight.” VTOL Technologies has patented a similar ‘flying wing’ design for its UAV to provide up to six times the endurance of an equivalent multirotor platform (such as a quad, hex or octocopter), as well June/July 2017 | Unmanned Systems Technology VTOL Technologies used prototyping hardware and software to develop a long- endurance ‘flying wing’ for monitoring infrastructure (Courtesy of AmeyVTOL) The waterproof Bullray UAV is designed to lift heavy payloads in all weathers (Courtesy of Bullray)