Issue 37 Unmanned Systems Technology April/May 2021 Einride next-gen Pod l Battery technology l Dive Technologies AUV-Kit l UGVs insight l Vanguard EFI/ETC vee twins l Icarus Swarms l Transponders l Sonobot 5 l IDEX 2021 report

3 April/May 2021 | Contents Unmanned Systems Technology | April/May 2021 04 Intro The anticipated maiden flight of the Ingenuity helicopter over the surface of Mars highlights the challenge of battery energy density 06 Platform one: Mission-critical info Custom hardware for fault-tolerant software, USV project to gather offshore wind farm data, Hyundai unveils first space exploration UGV, new valves make hydrogen tank transport safe, and more 18 In conversation: Dr Arnaud Coville Volocopter’s CTO explains why he joined the company and how he has come to lead the development of its urban air taxis 22 Dossier: Einride next-gen Pod SAE Level 4 autonomy and cooperative sensing will allow this delivery truck to transform logistics, its developers say 34 Focus: Battery technology We look at the cell technology options for addressing the trade- offs in battery design for unmanned systems 44 Digest: Dive Technologies AUV-Kit How this proven set of subsystems, plus additive manufacturing, allow the company to build AUVs of different sizes within weeks 50 Insight: UGVs Ground vehicles are earning their safety credentials during the pandemic by taking on tasks normally performed by people 58 Dossier: Vanguard EFI/ETC vee twins Originally deployed as general-purpose utility engines, these Small Block and Big Block four-strokes are now appearing in unmanned systems. Here’s the story of their development 70 In operation: Icarus Swarms UAV swarming operations don’t necessarily need fixed comms with a GCS – this company does it by embedding algorithms in each craft to allow it to react to obstacles or a subsystem failure 76 Focus: Transponders Emerging standards will allow UAV transponder technology to be certified for certain operations and airspaces. That is bringing with it advances in their capabilities, as we explain 86 Digest: EvoLogics Sonobot 5 The fifth version of this hydrographic survey USV represents a complete external and internal design rethink over its predecessors. We report on what it offers now 92 Report: IDEX 2021 Implementing Covid safety measures enabled this show to buck the current trend toward virtual exhibitions. Here are our highlights of the components and unmanned systems that were on display 98 PS: The Eelume snakebot Unlike other snakebots, this one is fitted with thrusters that allow it travel further under water for oil & gas infrastructure inspections 06 22 70 86 18