Unmanned Systems Technology 017 | AAC HAMR UAV | Autopilots | Airborne surveillance | Primoco 500 two-stroke | Faro ScanBot UGV | Transponders | Intergeo, CUAV Expo and CUAV Show reports

shields the UAV from environmental damage and provides containment for the charging. The company is also developing a fuel cell version of the Dronedome, which it anticipates will double the operating effectiveness (while potentially increasing the cost). Drone-X’s current aim is to establish a maximum charging time equivalent to a multicopter system’s typical flight time (30 to 40 minutes, for example), but the fuel cell version could aim to accomplish that in 15-20 minutes. Septentrio unveiled the Altus NR3, its newest smart antenna for real-time kinematic (RTK) GNSS base and rover applications. The system is configured for all current and upcoming satellite constellations and frequencies. It incorporates the AsteRx-m2 receiver card offering four-constellation RTK, as well as the company’s various proprietary technologies for interference mitigation, including AIM+ jamming suppression software, IONO+ scintillation mitigation and AMPE+ for code and phase multi- path mitigation. “All our receivers are now equipped with three notch filters and one wideband filter, which automatically adjust to anomalies detected in the GNSS frequency band and filter them out,” said Patricia Joris. “This is especially important for UAV operators working near highways or harbours, where jamming is most often reported. If a UAV loses GNSS position, this results in gaps in the recorded data and a risk of collision.” The company would also go on to launch its new AsteRx-m2a and AsteRx- m2a UAS GNSS receiver boards at the Commercial UAV Expo in Las Vegas. These are two-antenna variants of the AsteRx-m2/AsteRx-m2 UAS, bringing position and heading, and pitch/roll, of 0.15°/0.25° respectively at 1 m antenna separation. “With the AsteRx-m2a, UAV operators don’t need to manoeuvre around in a figure-of-eight trying to initialise INS heading, or find space or additional power for a separate INS module; all that is needed is a second GNSS antenna,” explained the company’s Gustavo Lopez. German UAV developer Wingcopter had on display the new iteration of its electric VTOL Wingcopter UAV, called the Wingcopter 178. The new design has an MTOW of 9.6 kg (with the payload and battery totalling 2 kg) to stay within anticipated regulatory limits. The VTOL transition-capable aircraft can fly for up to 120 minutes in fixed- wing mode, with a maximum speed of 130 kph and a maximum rate of climb of 6 m/s, providing an overall mission range of 100 km. The new iteration also has