Project description
Improving UAV capabilities on longer missions
Technological advancements in electronic UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) are advancing at a rapid pace. Their market uptake is low mainly due to their limited flight time as frequent recharging is required. In case of massive deployment of electric UAVs, handling and charging battery packs represents a logistical problem. This is why large aerial platforms or large UAV systems powered by internal combustion engines (ICE) are preferable on long missions. However, their price and their operability costs are high. The EU-funded UAVEndure II project proposes a unique approach that is based on the combination of both technologies. It aims to improve the capabilities of small electric UAVs as an alternative to the large and costly drones.
Objective
UAV flight time is critical for several mission scenarios, as frequent recharging or refuelling limits the effective availability and
service time, as well as range. This has thus far prevented the use of fully electric unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), since
their performance scales unfavourably with the size/intensity of the UAV operation. Moreover, when small electric UAVs are
massively deployed, and particularly in time critical mission, the handling and charging of many battery packs becomes a
logistical problem. Thus, manned aerial platforms (helicopters and planes) or large (>25 kg) fixed-wing UAV systems,
powered by internal combustion engines (ICE) have been the preferred option for long endurance missions such as
monitoring and surveying. However, these large systems present high CAPEX and OPEX, mostly due to the oversized
nature of these systems.
The unique approach of UAVEndure II project is the combination of two technologies, namely small fixed-wing UAVs and
fuel-cell power generation at a downsized scale and price not attempted before. The rationale is to harvest all the benefits of
small electric UAVs, while having access to high endurance hitherto only possible with large aerial platforms propelled by
ICE.
Sky-Watch (SKY) and KraftWerk (KWT) have jointly developed the next generation fuel cell propulsion system for small
UAVs - ELJUN - to cover the needs of drone OEMs and end-users for increased flight range/time of small UAVs. ELJUN
provides 10x more flight range than LiPO battery. This is expected to further increase the usability of these small systems as
an alternative to larger, costlier drones, thus untapping wider access to the use of this technology in civil and governmental
applications. Thus, we expect ELJUN to become a new reference in the sector.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering robotics autonomous robots drones
- engineering and technology mechanical engineering vehicle engineering aerospace engineering aircraft rotorcraft
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels fuel cells
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.2.3. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.3. - PRIORITY 'Societal challenges
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H2020-EU.2.1. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
SME-2 - SME instrument phase 2
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-EIC-SMEInst-2018-2020
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
9530 Stovring
Denmark
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.