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

58 B riggs & Stratton has long been known as a manufacturer of gasoline engines and components, producing millions of units every year for a huge range of applications across the world. By and large, its engines are designed and engineered to run on E0-E10 gasoline (0-10% alcohol content) with 87-93 octane, for solutions such as military or fire & rescue gensets, and small mobile systems across agriculture, construction, grass management and shallow-water boating. Its philosophy is to design general- purpose multi-role engines that can be easily tailored to fit specific physical or performance requirements, as well as being rugged and long-lasting even in harsh environments. Most recently, the company – specifically Vanguard, its commercial power division – has released a 23 bhp* EFI air-cooled 627 cc Small Block vee twin that has been adapted for use in UAV and UGV applications. With its successful foray into unmanned systems, Briggs & Stratton has also integrated a CAN-based EFI/ ETC (electronic fuel injection and throttle control) system into its 40 bhp Big Block version, to enable its use in electronically controlled applications including unmanned systems. A vertical-shaft version of it was released in March 2020, and as of March 2021 it is also available in horizontal-shaft configuration. Rory Jackson looks at how these utility engines – one Small Block, one Big – are now finding applications in unmanned systems Block bookings April/May 2021 | Unmanned Systems Technology The Small Block EFI engine (left) is a vee-twin four-stroke delivering 23 bhp, while the Big Block version (right) is aimed at providing more power in a similarly electronically governed configuration (Images courtesy of Briggs & Stratton except where stated otherwise)