Unmanned Systems Technology 033 l SubSeaSail Gen6 USSV l Servo actuators focus l UAVs insight l Farnborough 2020 update l Transforma XDBOT l Strange Development REVolution l Radio telemetry focus

58 comparable to the best solar cells now used on space satellites,” Chan said. “But we’re also able to manufacture the cells in a thin-film, flexible format, enabling new applications and methods of integration.” The company added that this latest flexible solar array panel is at a technology readiness level of 7, having been tested in the stratosphere, and MicroLink is ready to begin initial production. Silicon Sensing discussed its fifth- generation (and highest-performing) IMU, the DMU30. “The DMU30 was developed to match the performance of a fibre optic gyro device but is more rugged, more affordable, and ideal for operating over extended periods in severe environments,” Andy Hughes said. “Independent trials have proved its performance, and it is now in production for a number of applications, including in the unmanned sector. For example, it has been selected for installation in the control system of the new iQPS small synthetic aperture radar satellite. “Several of these satellites will be deployed to provide an Earth observation data service, with the DMU30 helping to monitor and control the satellite’s angular velocity and attitude.” The DMU30’s bias instability is limited to 0.1 º /hour on its three gyroscopes and to 0.015 m g on its three accelerometers, with a maximum of 0.05 º /s gyroscopic noise and 0.9 m g accelerometer noise. RCV Engines has achieved the capability to run its engines using a range of different fuels – including gasolines, JP5, JP8 and diesels – without requiring any physical refits between fuel changes. Instead, only a toggle between the multi-fuel switchable maps (MFSM) stored in the ECU is required. “The concept of an ECU that can switch between fuel maps is in itself not revolutionary, but given the correct fuel map, we can run our engines equally well on any fuel,” Keith Lawes said. “We can accomplish that because of our rotating valve engines’ common combustion system. The rotation of the valve generates a high level of turbulence, which mixes the fuel and air thoroughly. “Also, the combustion chamber within the rotating valve body is very compact, which ensures the burn spreads reliably and rapidly from the ignition point through the entire charge. It also ensures that as much heat as possible is retained within the charge to produce mechanical work.” With these design qualities enabling significant tolerance of changes in air-to- fuel ratio, ignition timing and other fuel- related considerations, all that remained was for RCV to write firmware for the ECU to allow the MFSM function. As Lawes explained, “It was decided to have four independent fuelling maps and associated calibration data. For example, cold-start enrichment tables will vary from fuel to fuel. The four tables enable gasoline, JP8, JP5 and diesel calibrations to be included in one ECU if required, and CAN bus was selected as the input method to select the fuelling map.” The calibration maps for each main fuel type have been based on a standard master calibration, individually adjusted for each engine to optimise operations. Standard-issue RCV engines will have a gasoline and JP8/ Jet A1 calibration. A JP5 calibration can be supplied if requested, and while diesel is not currently a primary option, further optimisation to offer it as such is anticipated in the near future. Curtiss-Wright informed us about two of its newest network comms products suited to the UAS industry. The first is the DuraMAR 6300, which the company described as the embedded comms industry’s smallest and lightest rugged Cisco IP router. “It comes with extensive Mil-Std qualification testing and cybersecurity offered by Cisco technologies for secure data in motion, which will be CSfC [Commercial Solutions for Classified]-approved by the autumn,” said Mike Southworth. The DuraMAR 6300 weighs 2.0 lb (0.91 kg) and integrates a Cisco ESR-6300 embedded services router card running Cisco IOS-XE software. Now available for use in network backbones on board August/September 2020 | Unmanned Systems Technology RCV’s engines now run on different fuels without needing refits IMUs on test at Silicon Sensing