Unmanned aircraft makes debut at LIMA

During LIMA 2017, UAVOS Inc. presented the APUS HAPS (High Altitude Pseudo-Satellite) with active control of an ultra-high elongation flexible wing. According to the company, “such control is utilised on the basis of optical torsion and bending sensors integrated into the wing. The on-board controller analyzes the bend of the wing along the entire length and changes the angle of the wing attack in the desired area. This allows to automatically control the bend of the wing and perform roll control”.

It was APUS’s debut at LIMA 2017. This unmanned aircraft is powered by solar cells while a control system allowed the company to reduce a total weight by at least 25% compared to similar platforms. APUS has a wing-span of 10,5 metres and a total weight of 15 kg. A total altitude is impressive – 15,000 metres. UAVOS presents APUS as an ideal platform for a long-term surveillance and sentry duties as well as a communication hub or for signal jamming.

“This may look like a simple airplane,” Vadim Tarasov, UAVOS investor and Board member, said during LIMA 2017. “But this impression changes when you realize that it can fly between 12 to 20 kilometres above the Earth and that it doesn`t have to land for several months. Its flight duration is limited only by a number of re-charges of a solar battery. Model presented here at LIMA has a payload of roughly 1 kilogram. However, we have two larger variants – 30 metres and 50 metres. They are already built and they are flyable. The former has an 8-kilogram payload, while for the latter it is 50-kilogram payload”.

While APUS is a main element of UAVOS’s stand at LIMA 2017, the company presents more interesting products. One of them is Automatic Control System (ACS) with a distributed architecture – each sub-element has its own micro-controller which means that the system can work without a central processor. It can be integrated into all types of unmanned aircrafts and various manned fixed and rotary wing platforms as well as small boats. “You give me an aircraft of any size and we will convert it into a drone” – Mr. Tarasov said.

UAVOS also presents optoelectronic system for automatic control of rotary platforms with the function of capturing and tracking objects in automatic mode (software was designed by UAVOS). It has front and side IV class NIJ composite armour protection and optic cleaning system.

At LIMA 2017 UAVOS also presented a tactical drone helicopter with extended flight time and an optoelectronic sensor (or any other component, such as anti-UAV lasers). This gasoline-powered system, known as SURVEYOR-H, has a maximum speed of 150 km/h. According to Mr. Tarasov, UVH-29E can safely operate in rain, snow and wind exceeding 14 meters per second. Elements of a system are: UVH-29E flying unit and a command module known as PGCS (Portable Ground Control Station). A maximum take-off weight is 21.6 kg. The fuselage has 1.6 meters and the diameter of the main rotor is 2 meters. According to the producer the operational range of the unmanned helicopter is 540km, the maximum static ceiling is 2,500m, the flight time is 6 hours with a payload of 1at an altitude of 1000 metres.

Robert Czulda