Unmanned Systems Technology 025 | iXblue DriX I Maintenance I UGVs I IDEX 2019 I Planck Aero Shearwater I Sky Power hybrid system I Delph Dynamics RH4 I GCSs I StreetDrone Twizy I Oceanology Americas 2019

58 connection is an advantage, but sometimes the operator needs to hop away from the vehicle, so we have found that over time the wi-fi is a requirement,” he says. There are options to add hand controllers alongside the tablet, so Planck provides an adapter ‘backpack’ for that. It has also developed its own GCS software, called Q Ground Control for Shearwater, to handle the mission planning. The software works with third-party US government systems such as the Android Team Awareness Kit (ATAK) for data sharing to distribute the payload video feed securely to a lot of different users (such as the emergency services) in real time. ATAK was deployed by the DHS Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) at the end of 2017 for all US government agencies to use on Android devices. Instead of hearing intermittent radio transmissions from other operators at unknown locations, the truck operator can now see who and where those elements are on a cell phone or tablet screen and even communicate with team members from different agencies in ways including text messaging and sharing video. ATAK was built to be flexible enough so that when a new comms device or other technology is deployed, Planck can quickly write code to enable the use of that technology. This code is uploaded to the US government’s ATAK repository so that all ATAK operators can then use that capability for no additional integration cost. The UAV has four vertical legs for landing securely on the moving launch and recovery system (LARS) in the back of a truck or boat. Once it lands, it is automatically clamped in place and linked to the comms module and power supply to recharge the battery. It can be launched automatically from the LARS via the GCS. Although charging the battery fully can take up to two hours, it can be quickly exchanged to allow another mission soon after. Planck is working on a wireless fast- charging mechanism that will allow the Shearwater to fly multiple missions, and the operator never needs to get out of the cab of the truck. The biggest design factors are the controller and battery, along with the airframe to maximise endurance and manoeuvrability in high winds, says Twining. “Having a lot of excess power for manoeuvrability is really important,” he says. “When you hit the last-minute wave or bump, the aircraft has to react appropriately and provide more power to the motors, so the trade-off is to use more powerful motors and less flight time.” April/May 2019 | Unmanned Systems Technology When you hit the last-minute wave or bump, the UAV has to react appropriately and provide more power to the motors For night landing, a truck is fitted with near-infrared lamps to enable the landing camera to detect the marker