Issue 41 Unmanned Systems Technology December/January 2022 PteroDynamics X-P4 l Sense & avoid l 4Front Robotics Cricket l Autonomous transport l NWFC-1500 fuel cell l DroneX report l OceanScout I Composites I DSEI 2021 report

Sense & avoid systems | Focus and velocity estimates and an activation flag are passed to the collision avoidance algorithm. Once the collision level of the avoidance logic has been activated, a new collision-free path is generated using a two-step collision avoidance algorithm. The final output of the SAA system is a revised set of waypoints that are transmitted to a small UAV, which could be fixed wing and multi-rotor. One requirement of an SAA system is the ability to detect and track multiple targets. Numerous multiple target tracking (MTT) algorithms are available for this. The SAA problem for small UAVs requires that an MTT algorithm includes track management, is robust against clutter and missed measurements, and is computationally efficient. The FMCW phased-array radar detector was tested with a 3D Robotics (3DR) X8 multi-copter with two 3DR Y6 multi- copters as the intruders. During the flight test, the radar processing board was used for the digital signal processing. From the radar processing board, the radar measurements were sent to a laptop, which served as a ground control station and also ran the tracking, collision detection and collision avoidance algorithms. In the future, the board will also run the R-RANSAC algorithms. The radar system uses a single transmitting antenna and a four-channel phased-array receiver that scans the azimuth angle. The width of the synthesised beam varies from about 25 º when steered at boresight to 32 º when steered near the edge of the field of view. Since these beam widths are quite wide and the beams are quite narrow, the radar system cannot resolve two detected aircraft that are within 10-15 º of each other. The R-RANSAC tracking algorithm is designed to take into account these unresolved measurements of multiple targets. The radar processing system consists of four PCBs – the RF transmitter and receivers, the IF amplification and filtering, the A/D converters, and the digital signal processing and control board. In the flight test, the radar measurement was sampled 4096 times at a sampling frequency of 2.048 MHz. To remove background clutter, 400 noise measurements were taken using a variable probability of false alarms. ATM systems One ATM system that is gaining acceptance for UAVs is the Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management (UTM). It is a collaboration between NASA, the FAA and the UAV industry to coordinate UAV flights autonomously and avoid potential collisions. One goal is to remove the collision avoidance burden from human air traffic controllers while still giving them situational awareness of UAVs in the same airspace as the manned YOUR PROPULSION SYSTEM PARTNER FULL ENGINE INTEGRATION FOR THE FUTURE Rotron rotary engines reflect an entirely different approach to fully-integrated propulsion systems, by redefining the relationship between size, performance, efficiency and reliability in an ultra-low vibration power unit. MISSION-PROVEN INTEGRATED SOLUTION VTOL UAV platform. Rated take-off power: 60HP Installed weight of complete wet system, ready to fly : 41KG System included - engine core, exhaust system (98Db), fuel system (twin pump with redundant control), oil supply system, cooling system inc water, ECU (governor mode with servo driven throttle), 1400W 24V power (twin regulators), wiring loom and drive clutch ROTRON ADVANCED ROTARY ENGINE TECHNOLOGY LEARNMORE AT ROTRONUAV.COM OR CALL US ON +44 (0)1747 440 510 CONNECTWITH US /COMPANY/ROTRON-POWER Mission proven across multiple aircraft platforms Full propulsion system design and integration Ultra compact to maximise efficiency, extend mission capability and versatility Highest power to weight ratio in class for increased payload and/or range. Engine durability from 150 - 1,000 hour TBO Heavy Fuel capable JetA1/ JP-5/JP-8 for integrated solutions Patented liquid cooled shaft and exhaust ejector XE technology RT600 & RT300 COTS turn-key engine packages available RT300 : 30 - 50HP RT600 : 60 - 100HP