Collaborations between Bell and ARL have met some remarkable milestones. In December, researchers initially met at the Ft. Worth facility to demonstrate a small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) concept vehicle in support of Future Vertical Lift. In January, ARL South brought the same demonstration to the UT’s J.J. Pickle Research Campus (PRC) in support of a visit by the Army Rapid Equipping Force Lead, Col. Bookard.
UT-CEM supported this visit and demonstration. The work Bell is undertaking in collaboration with the Army fits into a larger UAS collaboration between the Army and UT. Activities at UT focus on understanding the power requirements of different UAS platforms against a variety of mission profiles, while minimizing rotor noise.
This sUAS is a Soldier portable long range micro VTOL asset weighing roughly 1 lb. with vertical VTOL capabilities, an estimated flight time of 60-90 minutes, and an estimated range of 30+ km. The demonstration included autonomous takeoff, maneuver to GPS waypoints, and landing.
The work supports the Army Modernization Priority for Future Vertical Lift by providing knowledge and understanding of unprecedented capability in sUAS platforms for use in a variety of Army aerial applications. In collaboration with Bell, ARL will continue to implement and demonstrate autonomous behaviors, with extended flight time.
Additional Resources:
· UT Works with Uber and Army Research Labs on New uberAir Program, UT News
· Read the Unmanned Aerial Systems Charrette Report, co-authored by CEM’s Dr. Bob Hebner, U.S. Army CCDC Army Research Laboratory
· A hydrogen application to power drones: Aluminum Based Nanogalvanic Alloys for Hydrogen Generation, U.S. Army CCDC Army Research Laboratory
Points of Contact
Army Research Laboratory (ARL) South
Heidi Maupin
hedwig.e.maupin.civ@mail.mil
Bell Flight
Andrea Chavez
achavez@bellflight.com
UT-Center for Electromechanics
Dr. Bob Hebner
r.hebner@cem.utexas.edu