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

92 W hile much of the world remains subject to intermittent lockdowns and other quarantine-related restrictions, regional successes in combating the spread of the coronavirus have enabled some exhibitions to begin again. The biggest of this first wave was the 2021 International Defence Exhibition & Conference (IDEX), hosted at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre in the capital of the United Arab Emirates in February. Around 900 exhibitors from 59 countries showcased their latest technological solutions at this event – with that list including Israel for the first time, following the normalisation of relations between it and the UAE. As in years past, some of the most interesting product updates and announcements were to do with autonomous vehicles. Aeronautics was among those Israeli companies presenting at IDEX for the first time, showcasing in particular its Orbiter 4 UAV. The aircraft has been designed for tactical operations including ISR, electronic warfare, relaying comms, border patrol and reconnaissance, search & rescue, and emergency response. Its MTOW is 50 kg, within which it can carry 12 kg of payloads including EO/IR/ laser-pointing gimbals, photogrammetric mapping systems, Lidar and maritime patrol radars. It has a wingspan of 5.4 m and a fuel powertrain enabling up to 24 hours of flight (at a cruising speed of 45 knots), as well as a top speed of 70 knots and an operating ceiling of 18,000 ft (5486 m). “The Orbiter 4 engine, the Aero-R3, is an air-cooled, four-stroke, three-cylinder, multi-point injected radial reciprocating engine, modified by Aeronautics for our most demanding customer requirements,” said Nachshon Schiff. “Reliability and redundancy were key design factors. With twin spark plugs and triple cylinders, the engine can continue operating under various malfunctions. It is attached to the airframe with a couple of bolts and connectors, thus enabling simple installation and maintenance in the field.” The Aero-R3 is ECU-controlled for a power output of 6.8 bhp, has a compression ratio of 10:1 and a redline of 6500 rpm. The Orbiter 4’s flight computer provides six autonomous flight modes. Three of them are GNSS-guided: ‘Hold’, in which the UAV flies in a circular pattern over a given coordinate; ‘NTC’ (Navigate To Anti-Covid safety measures allowed the 2021 edition of this exhibition to go ahead. Rory Jackson gives this roundup of what was unveiled there April/May 2021 | Unmanned Systems Technology Rejoining the ranks The 2021 exhibition and conference included for the first time several exhibitors from Israel, including Aeronautics which showcased its Orbiter 4 UAV (pictured)