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

75 Eurosatory 2018 | Show report The plug contacts are also brass, and gold-plated to minimise wear over time,” Vanheertum said. The receptacle interface alloy is an untreated material selected for longevity in marine applications. Earlier versions of the system used gold-plated brass, but after multiple rotation tests the material was found to ‘flake’ too much within the lock. The receptacle and plug weigh roughly 45 g without cabling, but for more weight-sensitive applications the company is considering development of a Freedom series connector using aluminium or hard plastic in place of the brass in the housing. “Typical spring-loaded pins risk having water and dust seep into the mechanism where the pistons are kept; because of that, we have inverted this design, and each piston is behind a high-resistance silicone membrane protected by a PEEK plastic that individually seals the contacts,” Vanheertum said. “Mineral oils, such as those often used in the military, cannot penetrate this membrane either.” NIC Instruments showcased its Zeus series of CBRNe/EOD UGVs, which come in three modular forms. One version has flippers on the ends of its tracks for obstacle clearance and stability over uneven terrain. It also features a three-section arm for long- reach purposes that is capable of lifting up to 15 kg. The other two versions can feature two-section or single-section arms for ground-level work where keeping the UGV’s weight and power requirements low is more important than being able to reach high places. “All models of the Zeus are designed to be waterproof, dustproof and keep a low centre of gravity to prevent them from tipping over, and enable climbing with or without the flippers,” Steve Wisbey said. “With the flippers, it can climb at angles up to 45 º and overcome obstacles 30 cm in height. We test them on stairs and compare different robots that way, but in practical terms it means they can handle rough or uneven ground.” With the flippers, the Zeus can clear ditches and gaps of up to 60 cm across, Wisbey added. Each model is powered by two 2590-format lithium-ion on batteries, for a typical mission duration of four hours. The UGVs can be linked to their control station by a 2.4 GHz wi-fi link to give a 500 m operating range, or by a 200 m tether. “The wi-fi link can also extend up to a kilometre, environment permitting,” Wisbey noted. UK company Amphenol was at Eurosatory to unveil its new Stingray magnetic connector. Following consultations with the UK’s Ministry of Defence and trials by potential end-users, the Stingray has been designed to offer a low-profile, rotatable connector that withstands exposure to rain, dust, dirt and chemicals. “Among the features of the Stingray connector is the magnetic mechanism and non-keyed mating system, which removes the need for mechanical latching and allows a ‘blind mate’ connection,” Graham Dowle said. The Stingray is IP68 rated (both mated and unmated) and has been optimised for USB 2.0 and Ethernet protocols, making it suitable for transmitting audio, power and data signals. Septentrio was walking the aisles to discuss its recently launched AsteRx SB, a multi-constellation, multi-frequency GNSS receiver that comes in an IP68- rated enclosure. It is aimed at providing reliable positioning to machines and vehicles in industrial applications. “We have produced this device to be compact and ruggedised for applications such as machine control or sensor fusion that require high-precision positioning,” Gustavo Lopez said. The AsteRx SB also features an AIM+ interference mitigation and monitoring system, which can suppress interference from simple narrowband signals to complex wideband and pulse jammers. The system uses four mounting points under the housing, as well as a specialised mounting accessory with VESA compatibility to ease integration into a UAV, base station or other autonomous systems. Unmanned Systems Technology | August/September 2018 The new Stingray magnetic connector from Amphenol Septentrio’s multi-constellation AsteRx SB GNSS receiver