NASC, UAVT plan joint flight demonstration
Navmar Applied Sciences Corporation (NASC) and UAV Turbines (UAVT) will carry out a joint flight demonstration of NASC's TigerShark UAS powered by a UAVT micro-turboprop propulsion system by the end of 2017, the companies announced on 20 April.
The micro-turboprop engine has a new recuperator design, developed to significantly increase engine efficiency.
The demonstration is part of a joint effort to integrate Group 3 and 4 UAS with microturbine technology in order to realise the benefits of the technology.
Kirk Warshaw, president, UAVT, said: 'The benefits of turbines were clear to the air transport industry when turbojets first came into service in 1958, and they quickly dominated the industry. The same advantages of high reliability, long life, smooth quiet operation, and the use of safe heavy JP fuel have long made turbine propulsion desirable for UAVs, although no one until now has produced a viable system.
'Development of turboprops for UAVs presented extreme challenges due to the high temperatures and physical forces involved in obtaining sufficient power from very small systems. UAVT has spent seventeen years and tens of millions of dollars to overcome these challenges and achieve reliable solutions.'
More from AUVSI Xponential 2017 Show News
-
![AUVSI 2017: Kongsberg discusses Eelume]()
AUVSI 2017: Kongsberg discusses Eelume
Kongsberg Maritime took the opportunity at AUVSI Xponential to describe the background and development of Eelume, a subsea inspection, maintenance and repair (IMR) vessel. Richard …
-
![AUVSI 2017: Copycats, profits cause for concern]()
AUVSI 2017: Copycats, profits cause for concern
In a show where hundreds of companies and tens of thousands of visitors and exhibitors gather to discuss and explore the latest innovations in the …
-
![AUVSI 2017: Marine Corps spotlights SUAS growth]()
AUVSI 2017: Marine Corps spotlights SUAS growth
The United States Marine Corps is predicting a continuing expansion of 'Group 1' small UAS systems across service elements.Speaking at this week's AUVSI Xponential event …
-
![AUVSI 2017: Swift Navigation, Carnegie Robotics reveal Duro]()
AUVSI 2017: Swift Navigation, Carnegie Robotics reveal Duro
San Francisco-based startup company Swift Navigation, who partnered with Carnegie Robotics, unveiled their Duro GNSS receiver at AUVSI's Xponential. Duro has been described as a …
-
![AUVSI 2017: Commercial versus military (video)]()
AUVSI 2017: Commercial versus military (video)
While the commercial market dominates AUVSI Xponential this year in Dallas, there has been the unveiling and promotion of some military platforms, including the Snipe …
-
![AUVSI 2017: Future proofing Global Hawk (video)]()
AUVSI 2017: Future proofing Global Hawk (video)
The manufacturer of the RQ-4B Global Hawk, Northrop Grumman, is looking to prepare the UAV for future missions by testing and fitting a new sensor …
