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

97 DSEI 2021 | Show report “We have one that is a 240 A flex, which is probably enough to drive most any road EV while saving vastly on weight and space over traditional cabling,” Day noted. “The design also features three modules for going between cell, module and pack, although we might design for direct cell-to-pack systems in future, as Tesla is doing. “We’ve also developed some interesting bespoke products for customers over the past couple of years, such as flex circuits embedded in carbon fibre for high strength, and some with high-resistance sections to generate heat for de-icing aircraft and turbines.” Olsen Actuators attended the show to promote numerous ranges of electromechanical actuation products as well as a new range of GaN-based power electronics made by its partner ESI Motion. “We’re here to showcase an 8 kW drive composed of two 4 kW GaN FETs from ESI’s Atom product line,” said Thomas James. “Not only do the GaN FET modules give the highest force density available in the commercial market, they are also around five times more power-efficient than current technology. They are also Mil-Spec, so for space and aerospace applications where battery load is limited they can offer major advantages.” The modules can be DO-160G compliant, and software for interfacing and configuration can be certified to DO- 178 DAL-A, B or C for use on manned aircraft. They weigh about 54 g, are rated to output 100 A continuously over an 8-80 VDC supply without a heat sink, with no derating even at ambient temperatures of 70 C. The system comes in three variants – Aerospace, Industrial and Commercial – which come with different environmental ratings. The Aerospace’s rating is -55 to +100 C, the Industrial’s is -40 to +85 C, and the Commercial variant’s is -30 to +60 C. They all come with easy configuration software and 40 kHz switching as standard. Feedback from the system’s encoder/resolver is also sensorless and can be provided over a CAN or EtherCat bus. The BAE Systems pavilion featured a number of large static vehicle displays, including a mock-up of the T-650, a concept design for a heavy-lift electric quadrotor being developed for sustainable high-priority logistics. “It’s a 300 kg uncrewed aerial system based on the T-400 quadcopter from our partner Malloy Aeronautics,” explained Neil Appleton. “They have existing UAV product ranges in testing and operations with the UK and US navies and armies. We’re helping them develop this larger aircraft with a bigger payload capacity and more advanced intelligence and sensors, to increase its utility to military customers.” While the T-400 is named for its 400 lb payload capacity, the T-650 is being designed to carry 661.4 lb (rounded down to 650 for ease of naming) over a maximum range of 30 km unless some payload weight is dedicated to additional battery packs. In addition to last-mile resupply and logistics, the T-650 might also be used in search & rescue, maritime surveillance, casualty evacuation and other applications. “The initial design and manufacturing will take place at Malloy’s facility in Berkshire [in the UK], while flight testing and mission integration will be carried out at BAE Systems’ range in north-west England,” Appleton added. Unmanned Systems Technology | December/January 2022 Artist’s illustration of BAE Systems’ T-650 heavy-lift quadcopter GaN-based FET power modules from Olsen Actuators/ESI Motion