Uncrewed Systems Technology 044 l Xer Technolgies X12 and X8 l Lidar sensors l Stan UGV l USVs insight l AUVSI Xponential 2022 l Cobra Aero A99H l Accession Class USV l Connectors I Oceanology International 2022

76 missions. Examples include object detection, classification and tracking based on thermal signatures rather than colour imagery, offering the ability to carry out such missions at night and in foggy or rainy weather. The Viento 1280 is now commercially available with 25 and 35 mm lenses that weigh 163 g and 220 g respectively. Continuous optical zoom lens options will be available soon. Sierra-Olympic also unveiled the HexaBlu, a high-definition, high operating temperature MWIR sensor array from DRS EOIS. The HexaBlu features 1280 x 960 resolution, with a focal plane array that has a 6 micron pixel pitch, which is also close to the 3-5 micron MWIR waveband in which the camera operates. “Standard InSb detectors are cooled to 77 K, whereas this system works at about 150 K, meaning the cooler is much smaller, lighter and lower- powered than on standard MWIRs,” Leake said. “That makes for easier integration into UAV gimbals, and longer flight times too.” The HexaBlu cooler has undergone run-life testing under stressful loading conditions, with samples still operating after 27,000 hours. Both the Viento 1280 and the HexaBlu are designed for continuous monitoring and security missions, as well as various aerial integrations and applications. While primarily an autopilot maker, Embention exhibited several avionics products that provide other essential functions in UAV subsystems, all of which have been developed according to DO-178 and DO-254 aviation certification guidelines. “Together with our latest autopilot, we’ve brought our new series of motor controllers for eVTOL applications, our smart CAN isolator, our CAN expander [CEX] and our Veronte tracker ground antenna,” said Javier Espuch. Two motor controllers have been developed. The MC24 is designed for 24 kW, with up to 200 A continuous current on up to 120 V, while the MC110 works on a 550 V supply while delivering 200 A. “We’ve been watching the developments of eVTOL aircraft, and they will need systems that are both certified and will run at very high voltages,” Espuch noted. “The CEX meanwhile provides expansion ports to the Veronte autopilot. It connects the autopilot to a redundant CAN bus, and also interfaces via UART, PWM, analogue inputs and so on to extend the I/Os of the autopilot. It also allows integrators to replace lengthy PWM links – which are very vulnerable to EMI – with more secure CAN links.” The smart CAN isolator features a CAN input and output, with an isolation system inside to cut off a faulty portion of a vehicle’s CAN bus from the rest of the network. It therefore prevents such faulty devices from triggering so-called babbling idiot failures, which could generate unscheduled data traffic and hence slowdowns or blockages in the system. Advanced Navigation spoke with us about its new cloud ground control (CGC) solution, an online platform designed to enable monitoring and control of any autonomous or uncrewed vehicle over the internet. “We partnered with Surf Life Saving Queensland, which has hundreds of UAVs for coastline monitoring – for sharks, people drowning and so on – and they used CGC as their command and control portal,” explained Romain Pare. “Using this platform, they could access any accessory on any of their UAVs – camera gimbal controls, live video feeds, buoy launchers and even command BVLOS flight waypoints, technically, once that becomes legal of course.” In the future, Advanced Navigation also plans to use its 4G micro-modem technology as a dongle that effectively can be plugged into any autonomous vehicle to connect its flight control systems to the CGC’s cloud over 4/5G or any future cellular links. “The platform is cloud-agnostic, and the micro-modem is being developed in- house,” Pare added. “At the moment, CGC is accessible through either a web browser or an Android application, but an Apple version is being released soon.” June/July 2022 | Uncrewed Systems Technology Report | AUSVI Xponential 2022 Embention’s Veronte MC24 motor controller Advanced Navigation’s CGC