Unmanned Systems Technology 028 | ecoSUB Robotics AUVs I ECUs focus I Space vehicles insight I AMZ Driverless gotthard I InterDrone 2019 report I ATI WAM 167-BB I Video systems focus I Aerdron HL4 Herculift

Aerdron HL4 Herculift | Digest there’s much more they plan to use on the HL4,” Marcos Fabian says. “In one test they want us to perform a fast vertical lift-off to simulate a rocket taking off with 3 g of acceleration.” To make it easy to remove and integrate different experimental payloads, the payload bay has been designed to be isolated and independent from the UAV: the avionics and the payload bay are completely unconnected. This also ensures that if either the UAV or the payload fails for some reason, the other systems are not damaged or affected in any other way. The electrical systems that provide power to the motors and the autopilot are also on different electrical buses for safety and redundancy. As a result, the payload has its own independent power and comms systems. “This is the configuration we would recommend to anyone interested in our UAV,” Marcos Fabian says. “If a customer wanted to use the large batteries to power their payload as well as the UAV, I would try to steer them away from that, unless they plan to put in other forms of protection.” The future In addition to working on a fully moulded version of the HL4, which will have a greatly reduced structural weight and part count, the company has a few additional projects based on the IP it has developed. One of these is the Aircarrus UAV, which would carry a heavier payload and payload exchange system than the HL4 in order to courier packages over long distances. It would integrate the Dbotix autopilot co-developed with Drotek, which comes with an integrated 4G LTE data modem and a dedicated companion computer for using 3D machine vision cameras to enable onboard sense-and- avoid and trajectory mapping. “We’ve already completed some successful test flights, where a UAV with the Dbotix autopilot can be flown via the internet from different countries,” Marcos Fabian says. “We’re around 40% into the tooling for the Aircarrus, but we want it to be a fully autonomous system for the EU’s new U-Space ecosystem. The vision is to have UAVs that are fully operated over the internet with jump stations and automatic payload exchange platforms. “The project won funding through the EU’s Horizon 2020 programme, so we’re working towards having the hardware and software fully developed within the next one or two years.” The company is also building a long- endurance solar-powered UAV, the Solvis, a 328 W solar charging system. It is designed to carry up to 2 kg of payload for over 24 h of flight time, with the first prototype due to be ready to fly around the middle of next year. A new concept of drone reaches the market. Singular Aircraft, based in Barcelona, Malta, Mexico & Morocco, releases the first amphibian RPA (Remotely Piloted Aircraft) to the market, equipped with a twin engine, with capabilities to land and take off on unpaved runways and on water, ice and on snow, both at day or at night. Its adaptation to any environment is absolute, while being also the most affordable in its sector and fully customizable to any client’s needs. From Singular Aircraft we wanted to bring a versatile UAV to the market, that reduces significantly the cost of acquisition and the costs of maintenance; and finally we got it. 1600Kg payload Over 24 hours endurance