Unmanned Systems Technology 016 | Hydromea Vertex AUV | Power management systems | Unmanned Space Vehicles | Continental CD-155 turbodiesel | Swift 020 UAV | ECUs | DSEI 2017 Show report

3 October/November 2017 | Contents Unmanned Systems Technology | October/November 2017 04 Intro Amid all the talk about Earthbound vehicle autonomy it’s easy to overlook space systems, but they’re also using the technology 06 Platform one: Mission-critical info First public demo of an electric VTOL taxi, Rolls-Royce unveils design for a long-range electric USV, researchers announce radical new type of low-light camera, ceramic quad pack FPGAs for space systems now available, and more 16 In conversation: Matt Moore Thales’ head of UAS tactical planning shares his views on the latest trends in the deployment of unmanned systems, and their implications for avionics architectures 20 Dossier: Hydromea Vertex AUV Some water sampling measurements can only be carried out exactly where the sensor is, which is what this swarming underwater craft is designed for. We detail its development 32 Focus: Power management systems The growth in autonomy is having an impact on how power is managed in unmanned vehicles. We examine the key existing and emerging technologies 42 Insight: Space Space systems are a natural fit for autonomy, and it is playing a growing and varied role in missions beyond our planet 50 Dossier: Continental CD-155 This I4 turbodiesel has an impressive track record as a UAV power plant. The way it’s built helps explain why 62 Digest: Swift 020 UAV UAVs have many advantages for disaster relief operations, but also some drawbacks. Here’s how one developer overcame them 68 Focus: ECUs What goes into making these essential devices work, and how do you choose which kind you need? Read on... 76 Show report: DSEI 2017 What were some of the more intriguing vehicles and systems on show at this exhibition for the defence and security sector? 82 PS: Wireless charging Details of some of the strands of research for extending the endurance of electrically powered UAVs 20 68 42 06 16