Unmanned Systems Technology 021 | Robot Aviation FX450 l Imaging Sensors focus l UAVs Insight l Liquid-Piston X-Mini l Riptide l Eurosatory 2018 show report l Zipline l Electric Motors focus l ASTS show report

4 Every engineering project has its ups and downs, and the development of unmanned High Altitude, Long Endurance (HALE) aircraft has seen its share of both. One of the most high profile developments, the Aquila system developed in the UK for Facebook, was put into a terminal tailspin last month when the project was cancelled. The system was an ambitious design that aimed to put an internet base station into the sky at 70,000 ft, connecting to the ground as well as other craft in the air. This connectivity proved to be the killer for the project. A similar problem with communication hit Titan Aerospace, which was bought by Google in 2014 and closed down two years later. At the same time, Airbus has been quietly working on its own project. The Zephyr UAV started life in 2003 and the latest version, the Zephyr S, is now entering production – the first HALE system to do so. It is aimed at long-term surveillance, carrying a high-resolution camera up to 70,000 ft and feeding images to the ground (see Platform One). The lightweight craft gets its power entirely from solar cells and can stay up for a month at a time. The production plant is named after the founding engineer, Chris Kelleher, who died in 2015. The serial production of his original design is a fitting tribute to the skills and persistence of the engineers who are pushing the limits of the technology. Nick Flaherty | Technology Editor Highs and lows August/September 2018 | Unmanned Systems Technology Intro | August/September 2018 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 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 Administrator Frankie Robins 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] Rugged and reliable Robot Aviation looks to fill a gap in the UAV market with its all-weather SkyRobot FX450 Read all back issues online www.ust-media.com Vision of the future Key advances in image sensor technology Match points How to pick the right electric motor for a UAV UST 21 :AUG/SEPT 2018 UK £15,USA$30,EUROPE e 22 Volume Four | Issue Five August/September 2018 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)

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