Skiron-XLE Completes Seven-Hour Endurance Flight
Aurora Flight Sciences, a Boeing company, recently completed a successful seven-hour flight test of its fuel-cell-powered small uncrewed aircraft system (sUAS), Skiron-XLE. The test flight, conducted at an airfield in Virginia, represents a significant advancement in flight endurance for the Group 2 platform.
Skiron-XLE is part of Aurora’s Skiron sUAS product line, which also includes the battery-powered Skiron-X with 3.5-hour flight endurance. Skiron is a hybrid eVTOL platform, combining electric vertical takeoff and landing with fixed-wing forward flight. It is compliant with U.S. FAA Part 107 regulations for sUAS operations, and it is BVLOS ready.
For the seven-hour flight, the Skiron-XLE system included two 5-liter hydrogen tanks, an Intelligent Energy fuel cell, a Trillium HD45 EO/IR camera payload, and a Lithium Polymer (LiPo) auxiliary battery. Takeoff weight was 54 pounds. Completing the flight test, Skiron-XLE landed at 7.0 hours with its hydrogen fuel tanks depleted and ample safety margin remaining on the battery.
“With this latest flight test, we’ve shown that Skiron-XLE unlocks the longer flight times that customers are looking for while still being easy to deploy and easy to operate,” said Jason Grzywna, senior director of products at Aurora Flight Sciences. “Skiron- XLE is a testament to Aurora’s capabilities as an innovator and integrator of advanced flight technologies. We look forward to delivering it to customers in early 2025.”
In June 2023, Aurora first announced the forthcoming Skiron- XLE, purpose-designed for long-range reconnaissance. The vehicle has up to three payload mounting locations (nose, belly and underwing) and custom payload integration is available. Its rugged ground control station features Kutta Technologies’ Unified Ground Control Station (UGCS) software, and a 2.4G 10W radio and tracking antenna provides up to 75 km command-and-control (C2) link range.
Uavos Tests Drone Navigation with Advanced Computer Vision
Uavos recently partnered with its client to test Uavos’ autopilot system using computer vision. Uavos’ Engineering Service supported this testing with its advanced avionics system integrated into its unmanned helicopter. The use of computer vision in drone navigation systems is an advanced approach that aims to set up new standards for autonomous drone navigation and safety.
The Uavos autopilot system leveraged advanced computer vision and AI to navigate the UAV in GNSS-denied environments with unprecedented precision and reliability.
The onboard computer vision-based alternative navigation module with deep-learning algorithms provided the Uavos avionics system with the geospatial coordinates. Computer vision enabled accurate, resilient navigation during both day and night, offering safe takeoff and landing independent of the UAV. This method for acquiring and processing enabled the drone to “see” and interpret its environment, allowing it to navigate autonomously without needing GNSS.
“Our engineering support of this project will help our clients to leap forward in drone technology,” said Aliaksei Stratsilatau, CEO of Uavos. “By enabling truly autonomous flight in complex environments, we are empowering businesses and organizations to leverage drones in new ways. This technology is not just about improving efficiency; it’s about fundamentally changing how we approach tasks that were once too dangerous or difficult for humans to undertake.”
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