In May, DARPA launched the UAVForge Challenge to use crowd-sourcing to build small UAS through an exchange of ideas and design practices. The goal is to build and test a user-intuitive, backpack-portable UAS that can quietly fly in and out of critical environments to conduct sustained surveillance for up to three hours. Everyone taking part in the contest has to post videos of their designs, so other hardware tinkerers can vote on and critique their ideas. These videos are beginning to surface and we’ll be publishing some of them here from time to time.
First up is the XL-161 TRINITY is an Advanced Airborne Laser System Based on the technology of YAL-1 Airborne Laser. It is a solar- and fuel-powered unmanned airborne laser system that can “destroy any aircraft or ballistic missile within a wide range.” It stores solar energy in batteries for night-time use. A laser turret containing an infrared camera and rangefinder, has “all-angle turning capability” to target shots in any direction below the aircraft.
FEATURES
- Solar-Powered: Solar cells cover most of the upper surface area to supply electricity that is required to power 3 main rotor units. To enhance the capability to capture sun light, extendable solar cell panels are installed on the upper side of the aircraft. When fully extended, it will double the surface area of the aircraft and allow it to capture more energy from the sun.
- Dual Operating Mode: The Dual Operating Mode for the XL-161 is applied to fly in different situations. “Day mode” is applied when sun light is available. It will completely depend on sun light to power 3 main rotor units and flight systems, and will store the remaining energy to batteries to use during “Night mode”. “Night mode” will use the energy stored in batteries to operate the main rotor units and other systems while taking off, landing and at night.
- Triangle Layout Coaxial Rotors: 3 Coaxial Rotors are installed to provide thrust to the XL-161. On each of the rotor unit, the lower rotor spins to the right and the upper rotor spins to the left. Creating 2 perfectly equal forces toward opposite directions that balance the rotor unit. Therefore the rotor units will not cause the aircraft to self-spin. By adjusting the thrust output of each rotor, the aircraft can pitch and roll and go forward and backward.
- High Energy Chemical Oxygen Iodine Laser: The main weapon on board is a High Energy Chemical Oxygen Iodine Laser with 12 Modules. Generates powerful laser beam that can destroy any aircraft or ballistic missile within a wide range. Chemical fuel is stored inside the aircraft provides fuel to fire multiple full-powered shots from the laser.
- Bottom Mounted Laser Turret: The Bottom Mounted Laser Turret on the XL-161 is the output for the High Energy Chemical Oxygen Iodine Laser. Able to target at any direction below the aircraft with its all-angle turning capability. 2 lens are built inside the turret to enlarge and focus the laser. Targeting system is installed within the turret, includes a laser rangefinder and a infrared camera.
- New Landing Gear Design: The brand new landing gear design includes 3 set of wheels and 6 covering doors. The wheels are deployed by turning 90 degrees toward the ground. Each wheel can roll toward any direction making it easy to move around on the ground. The covering doors use tracks to pull back from the aircraft without taking extra space for rotating them from their original position and also allows the wheels to deploy. Part of the covering doors uses a traditional method that take more space than the new covering doors design to open up. However, it can be closed once the landing gears are deployed.
- Highly Networked: The XL-161 operates in a group along with other aircraft such as communication aircraft, tactical aircraft and other XL-161 to provide a large area of air space control.
- Long Range Radar System: The Long Range Radar System on board can detect any aircraft or missiles within its range. Or communicate with the HQ through a communication aircraft or a satellite to update strategy or operation status.
- Computer Systems: 12 Computers are installed on the XL-161 to provide a independent operating system. Calculating information such as weather condition, attitude, flight controls, weapon system and processing commands. Each computer is removable and replaceable through the doors on the aircraft.
TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS
- Light Weight Materials: Light Weight Material is required for building the XL-161. Because of the complex structures and the size of the aircraft, it cannot carry the weight of itself to the sky if using metal as materials. Nanotechnology may apply in this session.
- High Efficiency Solar Cells & Batteries: High Efficiency Solar Cells & Batteries are required to ensure that the XL-161 collects enough energy from the sun to operate through days and nights. Nanotechnology may apply in this session.
- Long Range High Energy Laser: A Powerful Long Range High Energy Laser is required for shooting down targets through the layers of atmosphere to any altitude or even taking out ground targets.
Source: YouTube