Paris Air Show Sees New System Debuts

Bluebird’s new small but long-endurance ThunderB. AUVSI photo.

 

By Brett Davis



Several new systems made their debut at the Paris Air Show 2013, most of them larger versions of existing systems.



Israel’s Bluebird showed its ThunderB, a small UAV that joins the smaller SpyLite and the smaller still MicroB.



Although it’s not a large vehicle — its wingspan is just over 13 feet — the ThunderB punches well above its weight, according to Itai Toren, vice president of business development, sales and marketing for Bluebird. The ThunderB has an endurance of up to 24 hours and a range of up to 150 kilometers (93 miles). That’s a significant step up from the SpyLite, which can fly for four hours with a range of up to 80 kilometers.



“This UAV is creating its own niche,” Toren said of the ThunderB, which is customizable and can take off from either a launcher or a short runway. The system’s capability means it could take over some of the duties now handled by larger systems, he said, and would be cheaper in the process. 



Bluebird is negotiating with two potential buyers to be launch customers of the system.



Brazil’s Tekever showcased the relatively new AR5 Life Ray, the largest variant of the company’s Ray family of UAS. The system has a wingspan of 9 meters (30 feet) and can carry a payload of up to 50 kilograms (110 pounds).



Life Ray is powered by a four-cylinder engine and can fly for up to 20 hours, and the company is specifically aiming it at wide-area surveillance, precision airdrop, and search-and-rescue missions.



Tekever also showed its police variant of the AR4 Light Ray, now dubbed the AR1 Blue Ray, a hand-launched system specifically aimed at first responders, according to Tiago Marques, the company’s project manager. 




Airship Eyes



Israel’s Controp debuted its Speed-A payload, an electro-optical/infrared camera ball specially geared for tethered aerostats and balloons.



The Speed-A has been flying on the aerostats built by Israel’s RT Aerostat Systems and Aeronautics, the latter of which are operated by the Canadian army. An undisclosed European customer has also ordered the payload, Controp says.



The Speed-A’s gimbal allows for it to control pitch and yaw, as well as roll, which is key to controlling the unique movement of balloons. And although it’s not particularly small, Controps managed to shave the weight off, according to Lori Erlich, the company’s director of marketing and communications. The Speed-A weighs 23 kilograms (51 pounds).




Solar Power




Oklahoma’s Design Intelligence Inc. and MicroLink Devices announced Eturnas, a lightweight, solar-powered unmanned aircraft that can be configured for long loiter times or quick-dash flights.



Operating in sunny weather, the system has up to three times the endurance of battery-powered systems, said aircraft maker DII. The lightweight solar cells, which have been tested aboard the International Space Station, were developed by MLD and coupled to DII’s power management technology.



“The previous and on-going collaborative efforts between DII and MLD have given our companies the technical advantage, experience and background along with the opportunity to develop truly innovative solar UAV technology concepts,” says DII President James Grimsley. “The development of the ETURNAS UAV is result of the demonstrated experience and capabilities of both of our companies.”