By Garrett Reim2021-04-20T00:01:00+01:00
The US Naval Research Laboratory flew a Hybrid Tiger unmanned air vehicle (UAV) more than 24h in November 2020, its longest flight demonstrated.
The electric UAV was powered by a hydrogen fuel cell and solar panels on its wings, as well as using energy harvesting techniques, such as soaring on thermal updrafts, says the laboratory on 14 April. The demonstration took place at Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland.
Source: US Navy
Hybrid Tiger being launched with a winch system
“The flight was effectively a performance test in worst-case conditions: temperatures falling below zero degrees Celsius, winds gusting to 20kt, and relatively little solar energy as we approached the solar solstice 21 December,” says Richard Stroman, a mechanical engineer from the Naval Research Laboratory Chemistry Division. “Despite all of that, Hybrid Tiger performed well.”
4 WASHINGTON, – U.S. Naval Research Laboratory engineers recently demonstrated Hybrid Tiger, an electric unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with multi-day endurance flight capability, at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland.
The team integrated technologies developed in prior NRL power and energy programs into a single UAV to achieve multi-day endurance with a Group 2 UAV. Group 2 UAVs are typically in the 21-55 pound weight class and normally operate below 3,500 feet above ground level at speeds less than 250 knots.
This was the first time Hybrid Tiger flew through a complete 24-hour period, its longest flight to date.
“Extrapolating the flight endurance of Hybrid Tiger from the recent flight data suggests it can reach the program goal flight endurance,” said Richard Stroman, Ph.D., a mechanical engineer from the NRL Chemistry Division. “The results validated our extensive simulation efforts, because the flight endurance is almost exactly what was predicted
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