Descrizione del progetto
Miglioramento delle funzionalità UAV nelle missioni più lunghe
I progressi tecnologici nei velivoli senza pilota (UAV) elettronici stanno avanzando rapidamente. La loro diffusione sul mercato è bassa principalmente a causa del tempo di volo limitato (è necessario infatti sottoporli frequentemente a ricarica). Nel caso di una massiccia distribuzione di UAV elettrici, la gestione e la ricarica dei pacchi batteria rappresenterebbe un problema logistico. Questo è il motivo per cui è preferibile ricorrere a grandi piattaforme aeree o grandi sistemi UAV alimentati da motori a combustione interna (MCI) per lunghe missioni. Tuttavia, il loro prezzo e i loro costi operativi sono elevati. Il progetto UAVEndure II, finanziato dall’UE, propone un approccio unico basato sulla combinazione di entrambe le tecnologie. Esso si propone di migliorare le funzionalità dei piccoli UAV elettrici in alternativa ai droni grandi e costosi.
Obiettivo
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.
Campo scientifico
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringroboticsautonomous robotsdrones
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringvehicle engineeringaerospace engineeringaircraftrotorcraft
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsfuel cells
Parole chiave
Programma(i)
Argomento(i)
Invito a presentare proposte
Vedi altri progetti per questo bandoBando secondario
H2020-SMEInst-2018-2020-2
Meccanismo di finanziamento
SME-2 - SME instrument phase 2Coordinatore
9530 Stovring
Danimarca
L’organizzazione si è definita una PMI (piccola e media impresa) al momento della firma dell’accordo di sovvenzione.