Issue 45 | Uncrewed Systems Technology Aug/Sept 2022 Tidewie USV Tupan | Performance monitoring | Bayonet 350 | UAVs insight | Xponential 2022 | ULPower UL350i and UL350iHPS | Elroy Air Chaparral | Gimbals | Clogworks Dark Matter

74 Show report | AUVSI Xponential 2022 which has driven us to our commercially available solutions you can see autonomously roaming the halls – 90% of which work for defence customers in the US and allied governments, as well as large enterprise companies such as Verizon and AT&T.” He added that defence applications for the UGV include persistent ground security for bases and other assets. For example, at the time of writing, the nearby Tyndall Air Force Base was using four Vision60s with wireless charging pads. EOD and CBRN solutions are also available, the ability to install different sensors, cameras and manipulator arms modularly on the Vision60’s back being key to its versatility. Most noticeably, a Vision60 that was walking the expo aisles had a Lockheed Martin Indago 3 multi- copter sitting on its back. “That’s there because we’re working with Lockheed to launch and recover one of their UAVs from our robot,” Subhan explained. “Small electric UAVs don’t have great endurance, but the Vision60 has 3.5 hours of battery life, so that effectively extends the lifetime of the UAV. “About 20-22 lb of payload capacity is optimal; users can add more but that starts to degrade the performance and lifespan between charges,” he added. “The robot itself weighs about 100 lb when unloaded, so about 120 lb when loaded optimally, and we’ve ruggedised it to IP67, so you can submerge it in 1 m of water for 30 minutes, pull it out and it’ll still function normally. It can also walk through sand, snow, rocks and all sorts of hazardous terrain without notable issues.” Stratom showcased its Rapid system for autonomous refuelling and recharging of uncrewed and human- operated vehicle systems. It consists broadly of a robotic arm mounting a fuel line and connector, designed with sensors and intelligence to enable the necessary pose and motion control for safe insertion and retraction of the nozzle. “The ‘Rapid’ name relates to the high flow rates it achieves with diesel, although it can also be designed for gas, other fuels and recharging electric vehicles and other devices,” said Ross Wehner. “We just quickly change the end-effector and some line parts to suit the mission vehicle. “We have two versions of Rapid now, one of which is for heavy trucks. They pull up to our device, and the device does a preliminary Lidar and camera scan to identify where the fuel tank or battery is, then does a secondary scan to localise the input nozzle, and then it calculates the actions needed to mate and begin pumping fuel or charge. “That’s generally commanded via a tablet interface that can be built into the vehicle, or from the operator’s GCS if it’s an autonomous vehicle. “The other version is for helicopters, which land by our device. Their rotors keep spinning, and the Rapid can successfully begin refuelling or recharging as the aircraft keeps oscillating a little, as is common during rough or fast landings. We’ve learned how to compensate for that mechanically and with software,” The Rapid system can be mounted on surfaces such as fixed bases, mobile vehicle platforms and telescopic rails. Its reach and payload can be configured for user requirements. Fuel Safe Systems displayed a range of its lightweight fuel bladders for autonomous vehicles. “We have decades of experience in fuel bladder manufacturing for NASCAR, IndyCar and other race series, and found that these lightweight, high-strength technologies transitioned well to the aviation and UAV world,” said Dan Tynan. “For safety, our fuel bladders are made largely from a high-strength fabric with a polyurethane coating. The coating provides fuel containment while the fabric provides puncture strength, tensile strength and general crashworthiness.” Tynan added that for some UAVs, August/September 2022 | Uncrewed Systems Technology The Rapid autonomous refuelling system from Stratom The Vision60 from Ghost Robotics is aimed at defence customers