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

4 While the latest autonomous air taxis and driverless cars have enjoyed a lot of attention lately, space systems have been quietly adopting the same technologies. It has taken some time for the technology to show up. Even relatively fast-track programmes such as Google’s Lunar X competition to send autonomous rovers to the Moon have taken several years more than anticipated. The five rovers remaining in the competition will be heading to the Moon from December, and will hopefully demonstrate the ability to explore and even mine its surface and those of other celestial bodies. Even Australia is launching its own space agency to enable it to play a part in developments. Autonomous re-usable orbiters such as the X37-B and now the Dream Chaser are circling the Earth, conducting experiments and cleaning up debris. And now more sophisticated devices such as radiation-tolerant FPGA microchips are being designed into systems that will explore the moons of Jupiter. These projects will take a decade to come to fruition but will use today’s technologies to create the systems that will fly them. Tiny systems are also being built and tested with a view to exploring our nearest stars. These are based on the development of autonomous control and comms systems and a wide variety of power and propulsion technology, which we explore on page 42 in our insight into the unmanned technology of the coming decade. Nick Flaherty | Technology Editor Space to dream October/November 2017 | Unmanned Systems Technology Intro | October/November 2017 Editorial Director Ian Bamsey Assistant Editor Guy Richards Technology Editor Nick Flaherty Contributors Peter Donaldson Rory Jackson Technical Consultants Paul Weighell Ian Williams-Wynn Dr Donough Wilson ECU Consultant Gavin Brett Design Andrew Metcalfe [email protected] UST Ad Sales Please direct all enquiries to Simon Moss [email protected] Subscriptions Jim Cavanagh [email protected] Publishing Director Simon Moss General Manager Chris Perry Office Administrators Frankie Robins Ellen Culliford For UST Online please contact: EchoBlue Media Online Publisher Caroline Rees [email protected] Subscribe today @ www.ust-media.com Editorial opportunities Do you have a strong technical knowledge of one or more aspects of unmanned systems? As we grow we are on the lookout for experts who can contribute to these pages. If that sounds an interesting challenge then don’t hesitate to explore the possibility of writing for us by emailing: [email protected] Numbers count Hydromea’s swarming AUV for water-sampling missions Running the show Focus on power management systems Peak performance Engine control units explained UST 16 :OCT/NOV 2017 UK £15,USA$30,EUROPE e 22 Volume Three | Issue Six October/November 2017 High Power Media Limited Whitfield House, Cheddar Road, Wedmore, Somerset, BS28 4EJ, England Tel: +44 (0)1934 713957 Fax: +44 (0)20 8497 2102 www.highpowermedia.com ISSN 2056-9823 Printed in Great Britain ©High Power Media All rights reserved. Reproduction (in whole or in part) of any article or illustration without the written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited. While care is taken to ensure the accuracy of information herein, the publisher can accept no liability for errors or omissions. Nor can responsibility be accepted for the content of any advertisement. US COPIES ONLY Unmanned Systems Technology ISSN No: 2056-9823, is published by High Power Media in England and is distributed in the United States by SPP, 17B S Middlesex Ave, Monroe, NJ 08831. Periodicals postage paid at New Brunswick, NJ. Postmaster please send address changes to: Unmanned Systems Technology, 17B S Middlesex Ave, Monroe, NJ 08831. SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions are available from High Power Media at the address above or directly from our website. Overseas copies are sent via air mail. UST SUBSCRIPTION OFFERS 1 year subscription – 15% discount: UK – £75; Europe – e 125 USA – $150; ROW – £97.50 2 year subscription – 25% discount: UK – £135; Europe – e 225 USA – $270; ROW – £175.50 Make cheques payable to High Power Media. Visa, Mastercard, Amex and UK Maestro accepted. Quote card number and expiry date (also issue/start date for Maestro)