Show report | Paris Air Show 2023 106 Flying Whales exhibited its rigid airship-based solution for high-volume uncrewed aerial logistics. The CONOPS was conceived when the French National Forestry Office started looking into less costly ways to transport renewable wood resources from forests than the traditional approach of building ground tracks. The result of that r&d is the LCA60T uncrewed airship, built by Flying Whales Industry and operated by Flying Whales Services (the two halves of the company). It will be 200 m long, and its cargo hold will be 96 m long, 8 m tall and 7 m wide. It generates lift through 180,000 m3 of helium inside its envelope. Up to 4000 kW of electricity for propulsion, avionics and its cargo mechanisms will come from a hydrogen fuel cell powertrain. The LCA60T’s first flight is planned for 2025, and the plan is to incorporate enough electric motors for a 100 kph maximum airspeed, transporting up to 60 t of payload (with transfer of cargo achievable during hover) and a flight ceiling of 3000 m (with payload). As well as moving pallets of lumber, the craft is being promoted for use in a range of other applications. These include transporting wind farm blades of up to 80 m long, ship-to-shore ferrying of containers from freight vessels to ports, construction material logistics, and moving rocket and satellite parts for the space industry. ADDEV Materials exhibited its latest range of chemical products for the aerospace market. Although these included sealants, adhesives, coatings and composites, the company placed a focus on new liquid solutions for aircraft maintenance. Its Cor-Ban series for instance is a line of corrosion-inhibiting products formulated for use on large structural components, as well as avionics, cables and other smaller components. Some formulations are also being produced for heavy-duty applications and long-term storage if needed. The company also promoted its Aero-Lube line of aircraft lubricants, which includes multi-purpose greases, silicones, Teflon, molybdenum disulphide and graphite lubricants. The product line includes systems for lubricating high-temperature areas, penetrating lubricants, and for preventing ice build-up on rubber seals. Aerix Systems showcased its X-8 octocopter, which is capable of highly dynamic manoeuvres thanks to its four coaxial motor-propeller pairs being mounted on rotationally actuated beams inside their shroud housings. The beams also sit in electromechanical rim drives that change their yaw. This integration and actuation approach allows the UAV to take off and land in different orientations, to pitch, roll and yaw stably in 360o during every phase of flight, and instantly correct trajectory or any erratic movements. The UAV features a gimbal on its nose, and the company adds that thanks to its propulsion configuration, the craft can circle around structures such as boat hulls, aeroplane wings or complex building shapes to take continuous video or imagery. The UAV measures 1 x 1 m, and is designed for top speeds of 200 kph (to which it accelerates within 2.5 seconds) as well as a 1 m turning radius at speed. It also has an endurance of 35 minutes, can carry a 2.5 kg payload and will withstand winds of up to 100 kph. Evolito exhibited its 800 V axial flux motors, which are based on a proprietary segmented topology and cooling system the company says requires 75% less iron, as well as less copper and fewer permanent magnets than radial flux motors. The motors are designed as propulsion solutions for eVTOLs, urban air taxis, and single or multiple-propeller fixed-wing aircraft. Its D1500 motor is 440 mm in diameter and 110 mm in length, weighs 35 kg and produces a peak torque of 1200 Nm and peak power output of 150 kW at 1000 rpm. The system also has a maximum speed of 2500 rpm, and a top continuous power output of 100 kW. Its D500 is a lighter and more powerful motor. It weighs 30 kg, produces 320 kW at 6200 rpm continuously, up to a peak of 350 kW at 6000 rpm, with 560 Nm of peak torque. The system measures 375 mm in diameter and 128 mm long. Atlas UAS debuted two new UAV systems. The first is the AtlasTether, which consists of the company’s AtlasPro UAV combined with a Ligh-T 4 tethering kit from fellow French company Elistair. The AtlasPro is a battery-electric tricopter measuring 558 x 417 x 116 mm, weighing 1585 g and with a payload capacity of 315 g and hence a MTOW of 1900 g. It is capable of operating in temperatures from -20 to +55 oC, and communicates over a 2.4 GHz October/November 2023 | Uncrewed Systems Technology The LCA60T uncrewed airship from Flying Whales, depicted carrying humanitarian aid containers
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