Orbital UAV highlights its OptiProp, an in-house simulation platform that enables engineers and customers to model engine and propeller combinations for a given aircraft.
350-class heavy-fuel engine on endurance dyno during hour 487
The platform allows analysis across altitudes from 0 to 20,000 ft and environmental conditions defined by mission requirements.
Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are operating at higher altitudes, increased speeds, and in more contested environments, where efficiency in fuel, thrust, and power remains critical. Traditional testing of engine and propeller performance is slow and costly, and often uncovers issues late in development, resulting in sub-optimal designs and wasted potential.
Orbital UAV’s OptiProp enables modelling of any engine and propeller combination for a specific aircraft configuration. It allows prediction of thrust, power requirements, and fuel consumption, enabling optimisation before a prototype takes flight.
The platform enables rapid iteration of aircraft designs during early development. It allows selection of propellers to achieve fuel efficiency and incorporates predictive fuel consumption into engineering decisions. OptiProp also enables comparison of aircraft performance, including against competitors, across diverse flight conditions.
By reducing the need for physical testing, Orbital UAV’s OptiProp enables evaluation timelines to be reduced from months to hours. It allows UAVs to operate at the edge of their capabilities by supporting maximised payload, endurance, and operational effectiveness.
