Ecilop Solar (Ecilop-8) is controlled as a quad-copter, 8 rotors are connected pair-wise. There is no onboard battery. To configure controllers inside a building, the user connects an external battery. To restart the controller in sunlight, the user bridges the power leads. The vehicle remains airborne because of ground effect and automatically maintains a horizontal attitude. Continue reading
Category Archives: Aircraft Propulsion & Energy
Aurora Electric Ducted Lift Fan Completes High Powered Thrust Tests for DARPA
Aurora Flight Sciences along with partners ThinGap and Trust Automation are answering the need for safe, high power density electric lift fans, with specific interest in vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) air vehicle applications. Continue reading
Rolls-Royce Sees Opportunity for Unmanned Engine Growth
The increase in military and civilian use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in recent years has lead to an increase in the need for components that power these platforms, and Rolls-Royce has had success in the past, and seems ready for the projected multi-billion growth of the unmanned market over the next decade as the U.S. and other nations prepare to integrate UAS into civilian airspace. Continue reading
Rolls-Royce Turbofan Powers Triton Flight
A single Rolls-Royce AE 3007 engine powers the MQ-4C Triton high-altitude, unmanned aircraft built by a Northrop Grumman-lead team. Continue reading
US Naval Research Laboratory Shatters Endurance Record for Small Electric UAS
Researchers at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory flew their fuel cell powered Ion Tiger UAS for 48 hours and 1 minute on April 16-18 by using liquid hydrogen fuel in a new, NRL-developed, cryogenic fuel storage tank and delivery system. Continue reading
Boeing X-51A WaveRider Hits Mach 5.1 on 4th Flight
WaveRider unmanned hypersonic vehicle achieved the longest air-breathing, scramjet-powered hypersonic flight in history May 1, flying for three and a half minutes on scramjet power at a top speed of Mach 5.1. Continue reading
Ionic Wind Thrusters – An Efficient Alternative to Conventional Atmospheric Propulsion Technologies ?
When a current passes between two electrodes — one thinner than the other — it creates a wind in the air between. If enough voltage is applied, the resulting wind can produce a thrust without the help of motors or fuel. Continue reading
UAV Factory Offers Super Silent UAS Muffler
After 7 months of the extensive development and testing, UAV Factory has released details of the low-noise muffler for small unmanned aircraft. Continue reading