
The NRL flight crew holds the Ion Tiger unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). From left to right: Dan Edwards, Mike Baur, Steve Carruthers, Joe MacKrell, Rick Stroman, Mike Schuette (Sotera Defence), Drew Rodgers and Chris Bovais. (Photo: U.S. Naval Research Laboratory)
Researchers at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory flew their fuel cell powered Ion Tiger UAV for 48 hours and 1 minute on April 16-18 by using liquid hydrogen fuel in a new, NRL-developed, cryogenic fuel storage tank and delivery system.
This flight shatters their previous record of 26 hours and 2 minutes set in 2009 using the same vehicle, but with gaseous hydrogen stored at 5000 psi.
Liquid hydrogen is three times denser than 5000-psi compressed hydrogen. The cryogenic liquid is stored in a lightweight tank, allowing more hydrogen to be carried onboard to increase flight endurance. Success in flight requires developing a high quality, lightweight insulated flight dewar for the cryogenic fuel, plus matching the boil off of the cryogenic hydrogen to the vehicle fuel consumption.
“Liquid hydrogen coupled with fuel-cell technology has the potential to expand the utility of small unmanned systems by greatly increasing endurance while still affording all the benefits of electric propulsion,” said Dr. Karen Swider-Lyons, NRL principal investigator.
Although long endurance is possible with conventional, hydrocarbon-fueled systems, these are usually loud, inefficient, and unreliable in this aircraft class. Similarly, small, electric, battery-powered systems are limited to endurances of only several hours.
The Latest Bing News on:
Electric UAV
- Switzerland’s Indirect Involvement in Artsakh War; Swiss Media Cites Military Application of Domestic Technologieson January 12, 2021 at 7:45 am
On January 10, the French language daily Le Courrier in Switzerland published an article entitled “The Israeli-Swiss Weapon of Azerbaijan”.
- Boeing to integrate ground-control station for U.S. Navy MQ-25 unmanned carrier airborne refueling aircrafton January 12, 2021 at 12:32 am
The MQ-25 is the U.S. Navy's first operational carrier-based unmanned aircraft and is designed to provide a much-needed refueling capability.
- Sony unveils new Airpeak drone at CES 2021. The small unmanned aerial vehicle shoots 4K movie videos from aboveon January 11, 2021 at 6:12 pm
Sony's Airpeak drone, which promises to be an eye-in-the-sky for filmmakers. Sony did not offer a lot of information about the drone, but showed a video of it – outfitted with a Sony Alpha 7S III ...
- Skydio CEO Adam Bry Appointed to the FAA Drone Advisory Committeeon January 7, 2021 at 12:36 pm
Skydio, the leading U.S. drone manufacturer and world leader in autonomous flight, today announced that Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao has appointed Adam Bry, the Co-Founder and CEO of Skydio ...
- Kia kicks off new year with refreshed logo, slogan emphasizing movementon January 6, 2021 at 12:45 pm
Revealed in a record-breaking display of drone pyrotechnics, the new look aims to reflect broader transformation in the automotive space.
- Kia unveils new logo and global brand slogan to ignite its bold transformation for the futureon January 6, 2021 at 2:40 am
Kia celebrates its new face and slogan, declaring the brand’s future transformation - The new logo features ‘symmetry’, ‘rhythm’ and ‘rising’ elements that embody Kia’s confidence and commitment to ...
- Hydrogen drone business partnership forms among Hy-Hybrid Energy, MMCUAV, and Goldi Mobilityon January 6, 2021 at 1:04 am
The strategic collaboration was signed to move green powered unmanned aerial vehicles forward. Hy-Hybrid Energy, Goldi Mobility and Shenzhen MicroMultiCopter ( ...
- Drone research group names Stewart as CEOon January 5, 2021 at 1:06 pm
A former leader of a drone research division of General Electric is taking over as the chief executive officer of the organization that runs the unmanned aircraft research center at Rome’s ...
- Aerospace Fasteners Market Global Industry Analysis Outlook by Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2016-2021on January 4, 2021 at 10:34 am
Aerospace Fasteners Market Manufacturers To Reach $9 Billion Over The Period Of 2016 - 2021 Market Introduction ...
- A Business Case for UAVson December 22, 2020 at 4:00 pm
Over the past five to seven years, bulk electric system companies outside of the U.S. have increased their use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in pursuit of increasing safety, improving efficiency ...
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Electric UAV
The Latest Bing News on:
Small unmanned systems
- Worldwide Industry for Remotely Operated Weapon Stations to 2029 - Improving Unmanned Systems Testing and Evaluation Presents Opportunitieson January 12, 2021 at 9:48 am
The "Global Remotely Operated Weapon Stations - Market and Technology Forecast to 2029" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. After two years of use in the field, Remotely ...
- Unmanned Surface Vehicle Market Analysis with Key Players, Applications, Trends and Forecasts to 2025on January 12, 2021 at 3:56 am
The global Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) market size is expected to gain market growth in the forecast period of 2020 to 2025, with a CAGR of 7.5% in the forecast period of 2020 to 2025 and will ...
- U.S. Navy to Test HELIOS Laser Weapon Systemon January 11, 2021 at 11:33 pm
The U.S. Navy has received HELIOS seaborne defensive laser weapon system for testing aboard an unmanned guided missile destroyer assigned to the Pacific Fleet. High Energy Laser with Integrated ...
- Maj. Gen. Sean Gainey: Army to Lead Government-Industry Test for Counter-Small UAS Techon January 11, 2021 at 1:42 pm
Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Office, (JCO) said the U.S. Army will conduct the first government-industry testing event for counter-sUAS technologies in April, Defense News reported Friday. The ...
- Travis AFB Launches Small Unarmed Aircraft Initiativeon January 9, 2021 at 9:02 pm
The small unarmed aircraft initiative redefines on-base perimeter security systems to potentially advance warfighting capabilities, enhance strategic deterrence and foster full-spectrum readiness ...
- Pentagon Releases Strategy for Countering Small Droneson January 8, 2021 at 6:29 pm
A new Pentagon strategy document defines an enterprise approach for countering small unmanned aircraft systems, known as sUAS, and outlines three lines of effort to address challenges presented by the ...
- Pentagon’s first demo of tech to counter small drones set for springon January 8, 2021 at 1:17 pm
Industry will get its first chance to bring technology to demonstrate to the joint force for an enduring solution to counter small drones.
- Pentagon’s first demo of small counter-drone tech set for springon January 8, 2021 at 12:25 pm
Industry will get its first chance to bring technology to demonstrate to the joint force for an enduring solution to counter small drones.
- Pentagon’s Counter Small Drone Strategyon January 8, 2021 at 7:24 am
The following is the U.S. Department of Defense Counter-sUAS Strategy that was released on Jan. 7, 2020. From the report The exponential growth of small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) creates new ...
- FAA Announces Final Rules to Further Integrate Drones Into the National Airspace Systemon January 6, 2021 at 2:05 pm
On 28 December 2020, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced two final rules that will allow for expanded unmanned aircraft system (UAS or, more commonly, drones) operations and further in ...