Unmanned Systems Technology 020 | Alpha 800 I Additive Manufacturing focus I USVs insight I Pegasus GE70 I GuardBot I AUVSI Xponential 2018 show report I Solar Power focus I CUAV Expo Europe 2018 show report

75 AUVSI Xponential 2018 | Show report Swift Engineering debuted a new tube-launched UAV capable of flying up to 25 minutes over 32 km while carrying a 770 g payload. “It uses a 3 in-long canister of CO 2 to launch the UAV, from its 48 in-long carbon fibre tube,” said Phil Mengden. “Runway-independent UAVs are becoming more popular, but also larger and more complex, which doesn’t help groups with the constrained logistics or rapid deployment needs required for low-cost mission scenarios. “This UAV is designed strictly to provide quick, low-cost ISR capability while still being reusable if required. It is only the first iteration, and could easily be scaled and/or developed into a more capable platform with longer endurance, more payload capacity and be launched from another air or underwater vehicle.” The system is intended for use with civil agencies in the forestry, police and search and rescue sectors, as well as commercial organisations requiring quick survey capability. The company is also developing the HIRO (Human Inspired Robotic Operations) Rover UGV, which features a humanoid body atop a four-wheeled platform bearing two humanoid robotic arms. The arms were developed under a Small Business Innovation Research contract with NASA for the Valkyrie robot. “The arms on the current platform are heavy, costly and have fewer degrees of freedom. Our contract is to improve on those characteristics while providing sensory feedback and telepresence controls to allow an astronaut or other operator to control it from a safe distance,” Mengden said. The HIRO Rover will have a 10-hour endurance and the ability to lift up to 30 kg of weight (20 kg fully extended) in its arms, while operating hatch controls or doorknobs and manual controls. Autonomous logistics or telepresence- controlled EOD, IED, CBRN, perimeter security and logistic operations are seen as key additional applications for terrestrial users. New from Desert Aircraft, Dave Johnson reported, is the 215 cc DA 215 – the largest displacement the company has ever offered. It is a boxer twin designed specifically for the UAV market, so it has dual spark as standard and a notably robust crankshaft/con rod package for endurance. “In terms of bearing sizes and con rod specification this is almost overkill,” Johnson remarked. “But for UAV use with long hours of operation, longevity is always the goal.” Developed from the proven DA 150, the DA 215 has a generator driveshaft integrated into the crankshaft at the other end to the propshaft drive. While a carburettor version will be offered, Desert Aircraft has deals with three companies, each to supply a fuel injected version. Thus customers will be able to choose from HFE, NorthWest and Currawong EFI versions. Somacis displayed its PCB fabrication capabilities for RF and control boards in unmanned applications. “RF PCBs have multiple challenges,” said Clay Christoffersen. “We focus on the requirements for high technology, which means very fine lines and spaces, hybrid stack-up, high layer count and multi-sequential lamination designs. “We are developing and testing new materials for RF boards, and we Unmanned Systems Technology | June/July 2018 Somacis fabricates PCBs for RF and control boards in unmanned systems The HIRO Rover from Swift Engineering