Unmanned Systems Technology 036

3 February/March 2021 | Contents Unmanned Systems Technology | February/March 2021 04 Intro Closing a project doesn’t mean it was a failure – it should be seen as a learning process for engineers of the future 06 Platform one: Mission-critical info New localisation software cuts power requirements, sensor helps multi-rotor UAVs keep flying if a motor fails, module unveiled that shuts off vehicle electrical systems in microseconds, and more 18 In conversation: Geoff Cathcart Orbital UAV’s CTO explains how a progressive early education system influenced how he approaches problem-solving 22 Dossier: Saab Sabertooth Acting as a type of permanent janitor for deep-sea infrastructure, this craft blurs the boundaries between an ROV and a AUV 34 Focus: IMUs As accelerometer and gyro technologies advance, distinctions between them and what they can do are becoming less important 46 Insight: UUVs If creature diversity is good for underwater ecosystems, then as engineers have realised, it’s good for UUV designs 54 Report: Oceanology International The 2020 edition of this show had to be held virtually, but thanks to AI it still drew a lot of companies with plenty to announce 60 Digest: Flybotix ASIO While not the first UAV to have a protective cage, this bi-copter does not need GNSS for navigation, which with its unusually long endurance makes it ideal for inspecting industrial assets 66 Dossier: Hirth 3507-01M We chart the development of Hirth’s 3507 inline two-stroke workhorse, culminating in this latest version, which has been modified primarily to run on heavy fuels 78 In operation: Aurrigo shuttle Yet another event affected by the Covid pandemic was the 2020 Wales Open golf tournament, but it still went ahead thanks to the deployment of this self-driving vehicle 84 Focus: Additive manufacturing Unmanned systems designers take note – AM technology is becoming faster at producing components while developing the ability to make them from combinations of materials 92 Digest: Zepher Flight Labs Z1 Hydrogen fuel cells make this VTOL-transitioning UAV quiet and give it long endurance, making it suitable for a range of military as well as commercial applications 98 PS: AriAscend UAV ID system UAVs will soon have to be fitted with technology that broadcasts their identity and location. We look at one system for enabling that 06 46 60 78 22