Rolls-Royce engines have been selected by Boeing to power the US Navy’s new MQ-25 Stingray aircraft, which will provide unmanned, carrier-based air-to-air refuelling. Continue reading
Category Archives: Aircraft Propulsion & Energy
BlueBird’s Dual-Hybrid (VTOL) Version of the ThunderB
BlueBird Aero Systems recently revealed a new VTOL Capability of its long range, long endurance ThunderB tactical UAS (~30Kg, 4m wing-span), only 2 months after exposing an exceptional Cargo Release Capability of the ThunderB UAV at Eurosatory 2018. Continue reading
Elektra Solar Completes First Flight with Autopilot
Elektra Solar GmbH commissioned its new redundant autopilot system on 30.08.2018 and successfully demonstrated several autonomous flights with its high-altitude long endurance aircraft Elektra Two Solar. For safety reasons, another pilot was on board, but not had to intervene at any stage of the flights. Continue reading
WiBotic Wireless Power System for Matrice 200 Series
WiBotic, a supplier of wireless charging and power optimization solutions for the robotics industry, has announced a new wireless power system for the DJI Matrice 200 (M200) and DJI Matrice 210 (M210). Continue reading
Asia’s First Fully Solar-Powered Quadcopter Drone
A team from the National University of Singapore (NUS) has achieved a major step forward in stretching the capabilities of quadcopter drones by powering the flight solely by natural sunlight. A first in Asia, the current prototype has flown above 10 metres in test flights – higher than a typical three storey building – utilising solar power with no battery or other energy storage on board. Continue reading
DARPA Picks Silent Falcon for Power Beaming Demo
Silent Falcon UAS Technologies solar electric, fixed wing, long endurance, long range Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) has been selected by DARPA as the unmanned aircraft system for its Stand-off Ubiquitous Power/Energy Replenishment – Power BeamingDemo (SUPER PBD). Continue reading
UAV Propulsion Tech to Market Fuel Safe Tank Systems
UAV Propulsion Tech has signed a representative agreement with Fuel Safe Systems (Redmond, OR – USA) to market their fuel bladder & tank systems to the US Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) market. Continue reading
Student Designs Propellerless Drone
Royal College of Art graduate Marcus Kung has designed a drone that can fly without propellers, with the aim of reducing injuries. The Impeller Drone — Kung’s graduate project as part of the RCA‘s masters programme in Design Products — flies using four air blowers, instead of exposed rotor blades like most drones. Continue reading