The use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) may soon become a
status quo for many industries in the world. UAS technology comes in a variety
of platforms with different shapes, sizes and capabilities. One of the
technology that will be receiving substantial attention is how these UAS
systems are being powered up. Currently, most of the consumer based UAS are
vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) systems in the form of multicopters.
However, these VTOL UAS systems lack the endurance of a typical fixed wing UAS because
of the enormous thrust required to move them vertically and they are usually
powered by lithium polymer batteries, limiting their effective use. Those using
combustion engines use non-renewable fossil fuel that is not sustainable in the
long run due to the limited supply, and the carbon emission concerns leading to
global warming.
The article I am sharing relates to the UK-Singapore collaboration
to come up with a hydrogen fuel cell that is capable of providing power for an
unmanned aircraft (UA) for a 300km non-stop flight. Hydrogen fuel cells from
Horizon Energy Systems (HES) of UK is recognized as the world’s longest
endurance energy storage systems for electrical UAS (Horizon energy systems;
UK-singapore collaboration prepares for record 300km hydrogen fuel cell UAV
flight, 2015). Fuel cells from HES contributed to the previous world record of
a 128km flight by a 5kg Pterosoar UAS system in 2007. The latest fuel cell from
HES that is described in the article, with collaboration from a consortium of
Singaporean organizations and HES, achieved the 300km flight in 6 hours with a
Skyblade 360 UAS built by ST Aerospace. This was considered a significant
milestone as it was the first time that a fuel cell went beyond prototype stage
into a standard product list of an UAS manufacturer (Press, 2016).
The
introduction of fuel cells into UAS platforms enhances their versatility and
allows other mission possibilities for small low altitude UA previously only
realisable by larger and more expensive UAS that flies at higher altitudes. According to Gonzalez-Espasandin, Leo and Navarro-Arevalo
(2014), fuel cells have major advantages in terms of endurance, efficiency,
emissions, and stealth “, making them ideal for UAS applications in both
military and civilian applications. Fuel cell technology will be a feasible
implementation as a clean, efficient, reliable, emission free power source that
can be asserted in UAS platforms to make longer flights with the growing
magnitude of applications today and in the future.
Reference
Horizon energy systems; UK-singapore collaboration prepares
for record 300km hydrogen fuel cell UAV flight. (2015). Energy Weekly News, ,
114. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.libproxy.db.erau.edu/docview/1710690697?accountid=27203
González-Espasandín, Ó., Leo, T. J., & Navarro-Arévalo,
E. (2014). Fuel cells: A real option for unmanned aerial vehicles propulsion.
The Scientific World Journal, doi:http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.libproxy.db.erau.edu/10.1155/2014/497642
Press (2016, February 17). New solid hydrogen-on-demand fuel
cell from HES Energy Systems flies ST Aerospace UAV for record 6 hours. sUAS
News. Retrieved from http://www.suasnews.com/2016/02/new-solid-hydrogen-on-demand-fuel-cell-from-hes-energy-systems-flies-st-aerospace-uav-for-record-6-hours/
