Unmanned Systems Technology 022 | XOcean XO-450 l Radar systems l Space vehicles insight l Small Robot l BMPower FCPS l Prismatic HALE UAV l InterDrone 2018 show report l UpVision l Navigation systems

56 T he great challenge with multi-rotor UAVs is range. Conventionally powered by lithium batteries, in professional applications they struggle to achieve more than 30 minutes’ flying time between recharges – even with a payload of a lightweight camera. That has prompted a number of companies to look to alternative means of powering a UAV’s electric rotors. There is no easy answer to this problem of range extension, but one Ian Bamsey investigates the development of an affordable fuel cell power system that can significantly extend the flight time of an electrically powered UAV This one will go far October/November 2018 | Unmanned Systems Technology