86 single cell or in formations to cover more ground, but we’ve also been getting huge interest from airborne mapping customers and emergency services operators who want as much uptime as possible.” The SLXD weighs 13 lb (5.9 kg) and has a MTOW of 55 lb, enabling considerable battery and payload capacity that can be traded off for balancing mission functionality against flight time. Its demonstrated flight endurance, proven during a cloudy day in August, is given by Astrium as 9.5 hours. The craft is designed to be inherently stable in flight, with the qualities of a glider. It cruises at 6-7 m/s (21.6- 25.2 kph), enabling a maximum straightline range of 600 km. As well as its development of the cells for the SLXD, Sunlight Aerospace also has developed its own stoichiometric single-step deposition processes, along with the formulation and structure of its thin-film multi-junction solar cells, to optimise the efficiency and specific power of its flexible PV modules for HALE UAV operations. Harris Aerial displayed its H6 hexacopter UAV, which is offered in three varieties, each integrating a different type of powertrain for different mission requirements and fuel availability. The power units can be uninstalled and replaced with a counterpart in the field as needed. The Carrier H6 Hybrid EFI is powered by the company’s H2400EFI generator, which provides 2.4 kW of continuous power. It is built around a Zenoah G320RC engine, a 32 cc two-stroke, sparkignited unit running on gasoline, typically carburetted when issued as standard. The Hybrid can fly for up to 2.5 hours with a 5 kg payload (its maximum carrying capacity), up to 2000 m above mean sea level (AMSL), although that can change depending on the payload. The Carrier H6 Hydrone UAV meanwhile is a hydrogen-electric aircraft, integrating Intelligent Energy’s IE-SOAR 2.4 kW fuel cell power module (FCPM). The FCPM weighs 4.8 kg, can operate in temperatures from -5 to 40 oC, and has FCC and CE safety certifications as well as dual redundant power systems. It is capable of 8 kW of peak power (2.4 kW being its continuous maximum output), supplied over a DC-DC regulated 50-70 V bus. The Hydrone can fly for 1.5 hours when carrying its 5 kg maximum payload weight, or up to 3 hours when empty, and can October/November 2023 | Uncrewed Systems Technology Astrium’s SLXD solar glider UAV, shown here landing after a 9.5 hour flight Harris Aerial’s H6 comes in different versions for different types of mission
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