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

76 Formula One cars for exhaust lines and heatshields. Jean-Michel Davidovics told us, “The parts are very thin, and can be aligned with special insulation for application in exhaust or other systems as hybrid composites. For hot areas in UAVs, this provides a less costly – and more environmentally friendly – alternative to traditional high-temperature composites.” The company’s PyroKarb material uses a glass-ceramic matrix reinforced with carbon fibres, and is cured at temperatures no higher than 300 F (150 C), yet can withstand short single-use exposure to more than 2000 F and long- term exposure to 500 F. PyroSic is a glass-ceramic material reinforced with silicon carbide fibres, and provides a long-term service temperature resistance of up to 1200 F and short-term service of up to 2000 F. Roboteam, a UGV manufacturer for defence and security operations, showcased its newest system, the Iris. It measures 20 x 23 x 11 cm, weighs 1.65 kg and is designed to be hand- thrown by military or security personnel onto a path they cannot physically reach themselves. The Iris is currently designed to handle a drop of up to 30 ft without any noticeable damage or loss of performance. “One of the most important steps was the design of the wheels, which act as the UGV’s primary shock absorbers,” Shahar Abuhazira said. “Even though the chassis has been ruggedised, the wheels protect the system by extending roughly 2 cm beyond the chassis’ circumference, and they are made from a proprietary rubber.” Each wheel is treaded to better handle rough terrain. “We went through many iterations when designing the wheels. There was a trade-off between making them softer, to improve image quality from the EO/IR forward-facing cameras through reduced vibration during movement, and making them harder to improve how it traverses rough terrain,” he said. “We started with 3D printing to prototype the new wheels rapidly, before moving on to CNC machining and moulds for improved and more consistent cost-effectiveness,” Abuhazira said. Kittyhawk showcased its new UAS flight management software, Flight Deck. It is designed to intuitively display data and user interfaces based on context of operations and informational requirements. June/July 2017 | Unmanned Systems Technology Show report | AUVSI Xponential 2017 Roboteam’s Iris UGV is designed to withstand a drop of up to 30 ft The new UAS flight management software from Kittyhawk, called Flight Deck