Up and soaring

Mitsui Chemicals develops lightweight metal resin technology for UAVs

Mitsui Chemicals Inc.’s metal resin integral technology, Polymetac, has been selected for use in the frames of new autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) currently being developed by Aerosense Inc., a joint venture of Sony Mobile Communications Inc. and ZMP Inc., for image capture combined with cloud-based data processing.

Allowing adhesion and bonding of various metals and resins, Polymetac cuts weight, reduces the number of parts, and eliminates manufacturing steps. Mitsui Chemicals used simulation to design simple joint shapes with a single part that had been composed of approximately 20 pieces. The technology contributes to a 50% weight reduction of joint parts while improving rigidity.

Mitsui Chemicals provides hybrid carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP)/aluminum joints and product support in shaping and designing the parts that will be used in the frame of Aerosense’s 2.17m-wingspan, 1.6m-long UAV. www.mitsuichemicals.com

Watch a video of the Aerosense UAV at https://goo.gl/h1gCjK.

Boston Engineering wins US Air Force motor control contract

Boston Engineering has received a $150,000 contract from the U.S. Air Force to enhance its unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) capabilities and reduce noise. The company will demonstrate embedded motor control platforms that underpin critical UAV operations including propulsion and surveillance sensors. Boston Engineering received the Phase I award from the Air Force’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)/Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program. www.boston-engineering.com; www.afsbirsttr.com

Two Australian companies to provide Triton parts

Northrop Grumman Corp. has awarded two Australian suppliers with contracts for the U.S. Navy’s MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft system (UAS) initial production. Brisbane-based Ferra Engineering and South Australia-based Mincham Aviation will manufacture mechanical sub-assemblies and structural components for the first four Triton air vehicles.

Northrop Grumman is seeking quotes from Australian companies to provide components for follow-on low rate production lots. Opportunities include cables, complex machined and composite assemblies, special tooling, and test equipment.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has said his government intends to purchase the Triton UAS for high-altitude, long-endurance surveillance missions. www.ferra.com.au; www.minchamaviation.com; www.northropgrumman.com

US Army awards AeroVironment $47 million in contracts for UAS

AeroVironment Inc. has received 10 orders from the U.S. Army since May 1, 2015, totaling $47.1 million for RQ-11B Raven and RQ-20A Puma AE unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) sustainment. This total value includes seven orders awarded on July 23, 2015, worth more than $35 million.

The lightweight AeroVironment Raven UAS is for rapid deployment and high mobility in military applications requiring low-altitude surveillance and reconnaissance intelligence. AeroVironment’s Puma AE is a small UAS capable of landing in salt water or on the ground.

AeroVironment provides logistics and mission services worldwide and small unmanned air vehicles to customers within the United States and to more than 30 allied governments. www.avinc.com

Large, small UAS tested for medical supply delivery

Some underserved Virginia patients were among the first to be officially helped by an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) during research flights in July.

In accordance with research flight plans authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), a full-sized aircraft operated by NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, and a small UAS hexacopter operated by startup company Flirtey Inc. delivered pharmaceuticals and medical supplies to an outdoor free clinic.

The Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership at Virginia Tech oversaw the test flights as part of an event called Let’s Fly Wisely.

During the tests, a NASA Langley Cirrus SR22 aircraft flown remotely – beyond visual line of sight for the first time from a portable ground station, with a safety pilot on board – picked up 10 lb of pharmaceuticals and supplies from an airport in southwest Virginia and delivered them to Lonesome Pine Airport in Wise County, 40 miles away.

The supplies went to a Flirtey crew, which separated them into 24 smaller packages for delivery by small UAS to the free clinic during several flights. A company pilot controlled the hexacopter, which lowered the pharmaceuticals by tether to healthcare professionals on the ground, who distributed them to patients.

“Today’s successful delivery was a real Kitty Hawk moment for the unmanned systems industry,” said Virginia Sen. Mark R. Warner. “These flights highlight the humanitarian possibilities of this technology.” www.nasa.gov/aero; http://letsflywisely.com

US Navy demonstrates MQ-8C Fire Scout endurance

Northrop Grumman Corp. and the U.S. Navy recently demonstrated endurance capabilities with the MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopter. On a planned, 10+ hour, 150nm flight from Naval Base Ventura County, Point Mugu, California, the MQ-8C Fire Scout achieved 11 hours with more than an hour of fuel in reserve. This is a new flight record for the MQ-8 Fire Scout – a system designed to provide persistent reconnaissance, situational awareness, and precision targeting support for ground, air, and sea forces.

The MQ-8C Fire Scout, which completed its developmental flight test program earlier this year with operational assessment planned for late 2015, has accumulated more than 513 flight hours and flown 353 sorties. www.northropgrumman.com