Researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL) have invented small drones that use sound waves as fuel to power through air and on water. Continue reading
Category Archives: Aircraft Propulsion & Energy
UK Startup Stores Power in Drone Frames
Heavy batteries have long limited how far drones can fly and how much they can carry. British engineering startup The Structural Battery Company (The SB Co.) believes the solution is to make the battery part of the aircraft itself. Continue reading
ePropelled Gets $60M US Government Funding to Strengthen Drone Propulsion Supply Chain
ePropelled, a U.S. manufacturer of advanced electric propulsion systems for unmanned aerial vehicles, aerospace, defence, and commercial applications, has announced a major expansion of its manufacturing operations, increasing its production footprint from 20,000 square feet to 80,000 square feet.
Wireless Power Beaming for Perched Drones
Reach Power and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln NIMBUS Lab, have announced that they have been selected by AFWERX for a STTR Phase I contract focused on wireless power-enabled perched drones for persistent communications and ISR to address the most pressing challenges in the Department of the Air Force (DAF). Continue reading
Embry‑Riddle Students Take on Hydrogen-Powered Drone Tech with Honeywell Aerospace
Mechanical Engineering students at Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University teamed up to retrofit a fixed-wing drone with a hydrogen fuel cell system — a technically complex and ambitious undertaking.
High-Powered Lasers can Wirelessly Charge Drones Mid-Flight
Chinese researchers have revealed a new technology that could soon enable drones to charge mid-flight using high-powered lasers. Continue reading
New Heavy-Lift Hydrogen Powertrain for UAVs
Intelligent Energy (IE), one of the world’s leading hydrogen fuel cell manufacturers, has unveiled a new 120 kW hydrogen fuel cell power system for heavy-lift fixed-wing drones and secured its largest commercial order to date in the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) sector. Continue reading
US Naval Research Laboratory Demonstrates Dual-Use Laser System for Power Beaming and C-UAS Operations
U. S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) scientists successfully demonstrated a dual-use laser system capable of wirelessly transmitting power over long distances and rapidly transitioning to perform defensive missions, advancing expeditionary energy and defence capabilities for future warfighters. Continue reading