112 conditions and operations of them. We tested many optical sensors and systems to see how they work in such winters. No-one should be building an uncrewed system that only works in good weather after all. So, we can confirm that LightWare’s Lidar still works very accurately in wintry conditions, and measures distance rather well in poor conditions too.” Ground control When 3D map data is available or can be estimated (including via 3D maps that FIXAR can create and host for users on its own server), it is visualised pre-mission in FIXAR’s XGround Control GCS software. This is a proprietary, closed-source program, designed specifically to build, edit and operate flight missions for the 007 and 025 UAVs, and monitor them in real time. Given the 3D nature of the 025’s control regime, 3D visualisation of mission areas was a key requirement in the GCS program’s development. The software is designed to pre-cache all 3D terrain data it is given access to, such that it can provide for planning waypoints in latitude, longitude and altitude without needing an internet connection. “We have worked hard on making it easy to use. We’ve endeavoured to make it easier than most commercially available GCS solutions, and to be honest, a lot of that comes from having designed it only for FIXAR UAVs,” Fainveits says. “Any GCS software meant as a universal tool for managing all sorts of different UAV models is naturally going to become complicated to make and use, because it needs to support a wide range of different platforms and hardware. With our system, a mission can be planned and started in less than two minutes, and with just nine mouse clicks.” To further ease of use, the software can work on a wide range of operating systems, including Windows, iOS and MacOS, and others based on request. Powertrain A 54,000 mAh battery pack from Gens Ace in Germany provides the craft’s energy, and it is available either as a 50 V 12S2P configuration or four batteries split as per a 12S2P configuration (in some cases, the latter helps improve the CoG, payload placements and payload integrations). Upgrades to enable 60,000 mAh batteries are also in the works. The four standard motors come from KDE Direct, chosen for their quality and performance relative to price, as well as a fast shipment time. Collectively, they provide a maximum thrust of just over 8 kW, with a combined average of 400-600 W in the UAV’s cruising speed (100-150 W per motor), and 2 kW in hovering mode and position hold, while 3.5 kW is typical for take-off power. “The 025’s top airspeed before what could be called ‘self-disassembly’ is about 122 kph, but the autopilot will adaptively choose a speed that optimises energy efficiency for the sake of mission endurance, as well as safety, keeping in mind that the target cruise speed for survey and surveillance – including ISR – may be different,” Fainveits says. “Many additional factors define the target cruising speed: the weight, type and number of payload, and the optical characteristics of the payload sensors, for example. “Most often, it calculates 50-55 kph as the most effective speed, but it also February/March 2025 | Uncrewed Systems Technology Digest | FIXAR 025 FIXAR’s future plans include licensing out the manufacture of its UAVs and building up technical centres of excellence around the world
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjI2Mzk4