ISS Aerospace Sensus L heavy-lift multicopter | Digest heat transfer technologies that can be used to efficiently regulate the internal temperatures of the system,” says Kempley. These include heat sink and heat pipe designs that effectively remove heat from inside the airframe and transfer it to the ambient air. Sensus L is offered with an ingress protection rating of IP54 as standard and IP65 as an option. The latter ensures protection against dust and water splashes, allowing it to operate in hostile weather. However, Kempley points out that its usefulness in such conditions depends on its pilotage sensors and payloads. “We can offer payload pods for optical cameras and for the pilot FPV camera to retain visual effectiveness in low visibility.” The combination of modular design and the large percentage of each vehicle that is manufactured in house ensures repair or replacement of damaged components is streamlined and consistent, Kempley says. The company provides a 2-year warranty on all its systems as standard, but recommends that customers buy the extended warranty so that they can be checked and, if necessary, repaired to the manufacturer’s standards in a timely manner throughout their service lives. Emergency response As with the rest of the Sensus range, the Sensus L variants can optionally be fitted with a ballistic parachute recovery system to ensure that they can be brought down safely in the event of critical failure in flight. There is also a safety “kill-switch” on the pilot’s handset, plus a separate flight termination switch that activates a radio operating on a different frequency from the main command and control transceiver to avoid mutual interference. The L8 model (as well as the smaller M8) have redundant motors, allowing the vehicle to remain operational and under control even if two motors fail on the same arm. Rules and regs Regulatory compliance varies by region and variant. Sensus L4 (24kg MTOW) complies with various regulatory frameworks across the UK, Europe, and the USA. In the UK, it falls under the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) UKPDRA01 predefined risk assessment for drones under 25kg, aligning with CAP 722 regulations within the “specific” category. European (EASA) regulations classify it under the specific category (4-25kg), requiring an operational authorisation based on a specific operations risk assessment (SORA). Operators must hold either standard scenario (STS) certification or a light UAS operator certificate (LUC) for company-based operations, ensuring compliance with EU regulations 2019/947 & 2019/945. Depending on the use case, it carries a CE marking (C3-C6). In the USA, the Sensus L4 qualifies under FAA Part 107 as it remains below 55 lbs. Operators need a remote pilot certificate, with potential waivers required for BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) operations or flights over people. The Sensus L8 (38kg MTOW) adheres to more stringent requirements due to its increased weight. In the UK, it operates under the specific category, requiring an operational authorization (OA) and potentially UK Part 21 certification if flown in certified airspace or complex environments. Compliance involves a SORA risk assessment and adherence to CAP 722 and CAP 722H standards for heavy UAS operations. Within Europe (EASA), UAVs above 25kg require a SORA-based operational risk assessment, with the option of a LUC for repeat operations. Flightworthiness must be demonstrated based on risk classification. In the USA, the Sensus L8 exceeds the FAA Part 107 weight limit and requires a Part 107 waiver. More advanced operations may necessitate FAA Part 91 certification or FAA type certification for commercial use in complex environments, adhering to ASTM F3389/F3298 airworthiness standards. For military and government applications, ISS Aerospace ensures compliance with NATO STANAG 4703 (military UAV standards), DEFSTAN 00970 (UK defence airworthiness standard), and additional approvals as required by defence and security agencies. Heavylift, multi-role UAS for demanding missions under challenging conditions is an increasingly important and competitive market segment, in which ISS’ Sensus family has built itself a strong position. 113 Uncrewed Systems Technology | April/May 2025 Power Source: x2 Lithium Polymer Batteries Max Flight Time: Up to 55 mins (no payload) & 25 mins (max. payload) Range: up to 82.5 km Maximum payload capacity: up to 18.0 kg MTOW: up to 38 kg Service Ceiling: 3,500 m Pitch Angle: 45o Wind resistance: 18 m/sec Weather rated to IP54 as standard with option to upgrade to IP65 (Hydrogen option limits to IP43) Some key suppliers Autopilot software: Arducopter GPS receivers and RTK GNSS: ARK Electronics Autopilot hardware: CubePilot Rugged mesh radios, datalinks and modems: DTC Rugged GCS handsets and controllers: UXV Technologies Processors, data analysis, sensor fusion: Intel Nav/collision avoidance LiDaR: Lightware 3D printing equipment suppliers: Mark3D/Markforged AI-powered real-time processing: Nvidia Long-range 3D mapping LiDaR: Ouster Key specifications
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjI2Mzk4