Unmanned Systems Technology 027 l Hummingbird XRP l Gimbals l UAVs insight l AUVSI report part 2 l O’Neill Power Systems NorEaster l Kratos Defense ATMA l Performance Monitoring l Kongsberg Maritime Sounder

Click Bond adhesive-bonding fasteners for unmanned vehicles 60 Roto Motor, a developer of reciprocating engines, showcased its newest UAV engine, the 85 FS AL. “It uses electronic fuel injection, and as standard it has a 300 W starter/ generator,” said Petr Cita. “It was designed principally for UAVs with wingspans of around 4 m and weighing up to 35 kg. The entire engine weighs around 4 kg, and typically has a 500-hour interval between overhauls.” For end-users wanting more electrical power, the system can be fitted with a 600, 1000 or 2000 W generator. The engine is a four-stroke, two-cylinder boxer displacing 80 cc and producing up to 4.1 hp (3.06 kW). It is air-cooled, and runs on 95 octane fuel (with 2% oil); fuel consumption is between 600 and 920 g/h, and it has a maximum speed of 6500 rpm. Click Bond showcased its latest solutions for adhesive-bonding fasteners in place on unmanned vehicle structures. The company offers a line of adhesives designed for use in temperatures from -55 to 177 C. These fast-curing adhesives enable assembly and installation in less than an hour. “Instead of riveting, you bond our fasteners in place,” said Amy Arnold. “Riveting nut plates requires making three holes for every hole you actually need – one for the bolt and nut, then two more for the rivets on either side. “Bonding therefore eliminates at least two-thirds of the holes from vehicle hulls and bulkheads, which preserves structural integrity, minimises leak paths and helps prevent galvanic corrosion by reducing contact between metals. It also reduces manufacturing time and repair work compared with riveting. “Drilling fewer holes also helps preserve structural integrity in composite materials, as there is less opportunity for fractures to propagate.” In addition to nut plates, studs and stand-offs, the company has developed installation fixtures for providing continuous clamp-up during the adhesive cure to ensure optimum bond strength. They also offer high re-use nut elements (up to 50 times) for applications that experience high wear, such as on access panels or over battery packs. Aerospace company Spaitech showcased its range of UAV systems, including the Sparrow UAS, which is designed for operations with special forces-type groups. “Having designed and certified the electronics and programming to military standards, it’s now in use with special forces in different regions of the world, with groups such as marines, paratroopers and high-mobility reconnaissance teams,” said Igor Bogomolov. “To keep it invisible to radar, the hull is built from a radio-transparent composite, August/September 2019 | Unmanned Systems Technology Show report | AUVSI Xponential 2019 Roto Motor’s 85 FS AL UAV engine