UST035

56 Report | AUVSI Xponential virtual 2020 manufacturer Drone Volt. Its Hercules 2 and Altura Zenith UAVs have been rebranded as the Spartacus MAX and Spartacus Hurricane respectively, and will be fully integrated with the AD cloud. Embention has updated its Veronte autopilot in order to enhance compatibility with UAM and eVTOL systems. “On the hardware aspects, Veronte now includes an embedded ADS-B module with In & Out capabilities,” said Javier Espuch. “It permits detection of other aircraft flying nearby, for performing sense & avoid manoeuvres and also enabling UTM and ATC integration by making the UAV visible to other air vehicles.” A new software module has also been developed to enable UAV integrators using Veronte to customise their own control logics and programs in the autopilot, without requiring any direct support or software modification by the Embention team and without losing the DO-178C compliance for the source code. “All this is done using a Simulink- like interface, making it user-friendly to engineers and drone integrators,” Espuch added. “And a new deterministic file management system has been added to the autopilot for certification purposes. That ensures data storage is deterministic, reducing the time taken to access a file and improving the system’s reliability.” Flybotix has launched its ASIO UAV, which is designed for safely inspecting confined spaces inside industrial assets, to reduce the need for sending humans into dangerous environments, while also conducting longer flights than typical indoor, cage- protected UAVs. “It is surrounded by a very strong protective cage, making it resilient to collisions with the environment, and it is also built around our patented propulsion system, which provides up to 24 minutes of flight time – the longest for any cage- protected UAV,” said Samir Bouabdallah. “Its payload includes a 4K RGB camera and an IR camera, both mounted on a ±90 º gimbal system with a 10,000 lumen LED illuminator, to capture extremely clear images of the areas to inspect.” The patented bicopter propulsion configuration is designed to maximise the propellers’ efficient surface area relative to the UAV’s dimensions, while also fitting within the common sizes of manholes used for travelling throughout industrial areas. The propulsion system has been co- developed with maxon motor, with an electromagnetic steering system used in place of servo motors or other complex mechanical parts. Flybotix estimates efficiency improvements in inspection work of up to 40% thanks to the longer ranges enabled by the UAV’s propeller arrangement. December/January 2021 | Unmanned Systems Technology The Veronte autopliot from Embention now includes ADS-B with In & Out capabilities Flybotix’s ASIO UAV inspection UAV has a 24-minute flight time