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

80 whatever, and our technology is easily scaleable.” He explained that at the core of the system are an ac starter motor/generator unit and a generator control unit, which also functions as a rectifier and interfaces with the engine control unit. “Range extension is the key to the use of this system, which replaces the conventional lithium-polymer battery used on drones,” McRoberts said. “For example, the DJI S1000 drone uses a 16,000 mAh battery with a weight of 1.5 kg, and using its remaining 5 kg payload capacity it can fly for 15 minutes. Our hybrid power source can replace this battery, providing the equivalent of 128,000 mAh with a weight of 2.5 kg and a remaining payload capacity of 4 kg to fly for two hours.” Omnetics showed its connector assemblies for unmanned applications, including two of its newest products, at the show. The Latching Micro-D connector is designed for fast plug and changeover. Two size 20 pins carry 8 A at standard operation and 10 A at surge, while five standard Micro-D signal pins carry up to 3 A per line. Omnetics also had on display a mixed-power Micro-Circular connector designed with four of the company’s size 20 power pins, and a further 12 signal pins for up to 3 A capacity per contact. “The signal pins can also be used in high-speed digital signal mode using differential-pair cables for surveillance image processing and similar-degree applications,” Bob Stanton noted. “The housing for Micro-Circulars can be used as is, with an attached clip assembly for light weight, or it can be inserted into a full metal housing for additional strength and rugged mounting.” Both connector assemblies accept shielded cable for cyber and EMI protection when needed. “A 38999 circular connector is being standardised that will be smaller and more widely available with a triple- start thread coupling system and faster mating,” Stanton added. “This new standard will probably use size 23 pins and handle about 10 A on 20-22 AWG wire. As pins and wiring increase in size, pin-to-pin spacing will drop from more than 75 mm pitch to 25 mm, which will reduce the diameter of the connector and the cable involved.” Volz Servos displayed three new actuators – the DA-15-N-ISS, the DA 36- LP and the DA 30-HT. The DA-15-N-ISS (Internal Servo Saver) features a settable slip clutch to protect the geartrain against any shock loads exceeding an end-user-defined threshold, such as from net or parachute recoveries. As Mark Juhrig explained, “The torque threshold of the slip clutch is set low enough to save the geartrain from being damaged by any shock loads, but higher than the maximum torque required to actuate the attached control surface, as verified during the development and testing of the UAV. “The position controller will drive the output shaft back into the commanded position as soon as the overload condition is gone, as the contactless position sensor is directly coupled to the output shaft of the servo.” The contactless position Hall effect sensor has an integrated digital signal processor to process the information coming from an array of Hall effect sensors, and does without the brushes and carbon tracks often seen in traditional potentiometers, reducing wear and reducing the servo’s susceptibility to vibration and shock loads. A new version of the DA-15-N servo with an RS-485 serial interface is also now available. The main circuit board has six copper layers to allow routing and accommodate the motor, geartrain, slip clutch, position sensor and electronic boards. This version provides diagnostic sensors such as supply voltage, current consumption, temperature and position feedback. Volz is also offering the all-new DA 36-LP (Low Profile) servo, in response to customers needing a short, high- performance unit. The system measures 136 x 88 x 36 mm and weighs 840 g, while offering a peak torque of 33 Nm on a 28 V dc power supply. Lastly, the DA 30-HT (High Torque, continuous torque specified at 20 Nm) has a far more powerful motor than the other models, with a higher thermal mass and June/July 2017 | Unmanned Systems Technology Show report | AUVSI Xponential 2017 The Micro-Circular connector from Omnetics is for mixed power