Williams, Airbus team for high altitude drone power systems
The collaboration will focus on the ways in which ultra-lightweight materials, battery technologies and electrical cell chemistries can be integrated on Airbus’ Zephyr High Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (HAPS) programme.
Zephyr is a solar powered unmanned aerial system (UAS), or drone, designed to fly at 65,000 ft, above commercial air traffic, for months at a time. The first production examples are being manufactured at Farnborough for the UK Ministry of Defence. The original project team has moved to Facebook in 2014 and is developing the Aquila high altitude UAS that has been undergoing flight testing this year. Aquila is intended to carry telecoms basestations to provide communications links, either WiFi or 4G, to isolated areas, while Zephyr with a 300W power budget, is aimed at surveillance applications with a 5kg camera that can provide up to 15cm resolution.
Williams is using forty years experience in motor racing for the lightweight materials and structures. Its most recent developments have included an innovative take on using recycled carbon fibre to manufacture components that can be 40% lighter than current alternatives.It has also been developing new battery and power management technologies for Formula E racing, where it is sole battery supplier, and is working with several partners on commercialising these technologies for the Internet of Things (IoT) and for electric vehicles. It is also part of a consortium building a battery factory in the UK.
“Airbus is a name synonymous with innovation and technology in the industry. As such, we are delighted to be working with them on this project, and hope to share some of our expertise in electrification, battery systems and advanced lightweight materials, as well as learn from their vast experience in aerospace. We are very much looking forward to working together on this project and hope the learnings from one another may continue in the future,” said Craig Wilson, Managing Director of Williams Advanced Engineering.
“Both Airbus and Williams are always looking to recruit talented engineers and we hope that this joint activity illustrates the terrific opportunities we offer to work in the kind of technologies that will be critical to future transportation,” said Airbus Head of Unmanned Aerial Systems, Jana Rosenmann.
Related stories:
- WILLIAMS LEADS CONSORTIUM TO BUILD MAJOR UK BATTERY FACTORY
- WILLIAMS LOOKS TO USE RACING CAR BATTERIES FOR HOME STORAGE
- LIGHTWEIGHT CHASSIS CHANGES BATTERY PACK DESIGN FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES
- GERMAN ELECTRIC AIRCRAFT STARTUP SEES $90 MILLION BOOST
If you enjoyed this article, you will like the following ones: don't miss them by subscribing to :
