Explore UST’s round-up of our five most read articles in the industry this week, including new technologies, collaborations, white papers, and industry successes.
1. Compact APU Test & Evaluation System Released
Basing their new APU test system on the SP-180 SRE-hybrid Wankel engine, Sky Power International has developed the SP-180 SRE APU demonstrator mobile APU test and evaluation system.
Auxiliary Power Units (APU) are small, self-contained power sources that are used in land and rail vehicles as well as in general aviation or maritime applications. These units provide an independent power supply that allows the main engine to remain switched off while electrical devices continue to operate.
2. The Future of Cost-Effective Maritime Resupply
PteroDynamics’ Transwing VTOL UAS stands out with its unique design that merges the strengths of both fixed-wing and multirotor aircraft. This innovative approach delivers:
- Exceptional VTOL performance: Handles wind gusts and high seas with ease.
- Seamless transition: Folds wings for vertical takeoff and landing, then unfolds for efficient fixed-wing flight.
- Reduced weight and drag: Improves range, endurance, and speed compared to traditional VTOL designs.
- Compact footprint: Requires minimal space for operation and storage – ideal for offshore platforms and vessels.
3. Unmanned Helicopter Issued with EASA DVR for Rotary Wing UAS
The CAMCOPTER® S-100 from Schiebel has received the reportedly first-ever Design Verification Report (DVR) by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for a Rotary Wing Unmanned Air System (RWUAS).
The Design Verification Report (DVR) for the specific category of UAS operations was issued after a rigorous evaluation process. This included 300 EASA-observed flight hours proving airworthiness, safety and enhanced containment, as well as successfully demonstrating laser safety, cyber security features and HIRF (High Intensity Radiated Fields) resistance.
4. Drone Delivery & Aerospace Companies Complete Merger
Drone Delivery Canada Corp. and Volatus Aerospace Corp. have successfully completed their merger of equals, announced on May 21, 2024. As a result, Drone Delivery Canada has acquired all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Volatus by way of a plan of arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario).
This Arrangement results in Volatus becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. The completion of the Merger marks a new era for the companies, combining the power of Volatus’ commercialization expertise with Drone Delivery Canada’s proven remote operations and logistics technology.
5. New Capabilities for Automatic Online Target-Free Sensor Calibration
Modern mobile robotic systems depend on sensor fusion for safety and redundancy. While the object detection, planning, and mapping algorithms that depend on sensor fusion get all the attention, it is often forgotten that their success depends on accurate sensor calibration.
Spleenlab VISIONAIRY® Online Calibration provides system designers an out-of-the-box solution to solve the challenging and overlooked calibration problem and reduce the maintenance requirements and cost for complex sensor stacks.
