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58 Show report | AUVSI Xponential 2019 L1 antenna, run it through a cable, then amplify and radiate it out of a passive antenna. “All the satellites the roof antenna sees can then be picked up from a user’s workshop, doing away with the risk of bad weather or other environmental hazards when a user wants to test a new satellite navigation system.” Operating the ITS does first require an experimental licence from the Federal Communications Commission, which can be obtained through the FCC’s website. The standard ITS kit comes with a re-radiating amplifier with 0-23 dB variable gain and a 50 ft LMR 400 cable, although custom lengths are available on request. WiBotic exhibited its WiBotic Edge, a variant of its wireless charging technology aimed at factory UGVs. Able to serve multiple robots, Edge devices can be placed throughout a facility to enable ‘opportunity charging’ of batteries for short periods of time wherever a robot routinely pauses, for example when loading. That minimises the overall number of UGVs in a factory, since each one can spend more time in service. “In this configuration, the UGV just needs to pull up to an Edge device but doesn’t need to make contact,” said Josh Pan. “Charging starts automatically and continues for as long as the robot stays in that location – there is no need for it to navigate into a docking station or take time disengaging from the charger. “Our technology is also robot-agnostic, permitting interoperability across a variety of robot and battery types. Precise alignment and docking are not necessary to permit efficient and safe wireless charging. Receiver components on the robot can also be customised and weatherproofed if a customer requires.” The WiBotic Edge has four fastener holes for securing it to a wall, avoiding the need for floor space. It contains an internal power supply, transmitter circuit board and transmitter antenna. Alternatively, the system can be mounted in the floor to provide unobtrusive charging as a robot drives over it. The company now offers a range of off- the-shelf systems, for charging at power rates of 90, 125, 250 and 300 W, or more. Reference Technologies displayed the latest version of its Hummingbird XRP (eXtended Range & Payload) unmanned aircraft, which has a range of updates over the version exhibited at the previous AUVSI, including having been modified from a hexacopter to an octocopter configuration. “When we came out with the hexacopter, we found users wanted more lift and longer durations, so we added two more rotors to provide an extra 36 kg of thrust,” said Allen Bishop. “To fit these extra motors around the original 61 cm diameter though, we needed a larger circumference, so June/July 2019 | Unmanned Systems Technology Exploded view of the Reference Technologies Hummingbird XRP WiBotic’s Edge wireless UGV charger