UST spotlights five standout articles featured on Unmanned Systems Technology in 2024. These stories highlight remarkable advancements in unmanned systems, from jet propulsion technology for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to sophisticated tethered drones and unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) for military operations.
2024 has been a transformative year for the application of unmanned technologies across diverse fields. Whether improving coastal surveillance, enabling seamless operations in contested airspace, or exploring new capabilities for autonomous systems, these developments demonstrate the key role of unmanned platforms in advancing precision, efficiency, and safety in some of the world’s most demanding environments.
UAV Flight Capability Demonstrated Using a Jet Engine With No Moving Parts
The North American Wave Engine Corporation demonstrated complete flight capability on a UAV using a jet engine that requires no moving parts.
The demonstration flight included self-powered take-off, climb-cruise and landing, signaling major improvements for the cost and rapid-producibility of future jet powered aircraft.
Wave Engine Corp.’s proprietary technology enables high speeds and allows for an order-of-magnitude reduction in the cost and complexity of jet propulsion, which is a critical enabler for an increasing number of applications that call for affordable and rapidly-producible jet propulsion systems and aircraft.
Partnership to Deliver Tethered ISR Drone & UGV Solution
Elistair partnered with Rheinmetall Canada Inc. to provide military customers with an on-the-move ISR solution that combines Elistair’s fully automated KHRONOS tethered drone with the Mission Master family of unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs).
The partnership followed closely on the heels of a successful demonstration of the KHRONOS and the Mission Master SP, an electric-powered UGV designed for resupply missions, overwatch, and payload carriage, before undisclosed European military officials at Rheinmetall Canada’s test track in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Québec.
Babcock & PteroDynamics to Explore New Capabilities for Autonomous UAS
Babcock Australasia and US-based autonomous aircraft developer PteroDynamics signed an MoU to explore new opportunities for unmanned aerial systems (UAS).
The two companies are coming together to pursue greater autonomous capability within Babcock’s current and future defense and civil contracts across Australia and New Zealand.
Babcock and PteroDynamics are collaborating on a series of initiatives to introduce PteroDynamics’ next-generation UAS to the Australasian market. The collaboration also focuses on the delivery of training for Babcock teams to provide in-country support of future contracts.
New SKY MANTIS 2 Delivers Ultimate Anti-Jamming Resilience
Mesh networking technology provider Doodle Labs is continuing a partnership with British UAS manufacturer Evolve Dynamics.
Helix Mesh Rider Radios by Doodle Labs’ are being integrated as the on-board datalink in the new generation of Evolve Dynamics’ flagship platform, the SKY MANTIS 2.
The integration secures resilient connectivity, full data encryption and advanced interference avoidance for the SKY MANTIS 2, which has been thoroughly field-tested in highly-contested airspace.
TEKEVER to Strengthen Coastal Surveillance in Portugal
TEKEVER secured a contract with the Portuguese National Republican Guard (GNR) to deploy its state-of-the-art UAS.
The AR3 is strengthening coastal surveillance and tackling economic and environmental crimes including unauthorized fishing and drug trafficking.
Selected through a competitive public tender process, the AR3 is equipped with a 3.5-meter catapult launch system, 100km surveillance radius, and 16-hour range, to deliver enhanced monitoring capabilities across the Portuguese coastline.
