UAVs and UUVs – an Update
Connor Dolan
By Andrew Magie
This is an update on the fuel cell-powered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) industries from our blog post from December 2018.
UAVs are most closely associated with military missions, but they are increasingly being deployed in other areas such as infrastructure inspection of wind turbines, bridges, dams, and buildings; fighting fires; delivering packages; and more. Traditional UAVs are powered by lithium-ion batteries, but users are growing frustrated with small payload-capacity and limited run-time. Hydrogen and fuel cell-powered UAVs solve all the problems associated with battery-powered UAVs: they run silently, have 2-3 times longer flight time, increased reliability and durability, and have lower long-term operating costs.
On April 16, 2019, a new UAV Guinness World Record was set by FCHEA member Intelligent Energy when its 800 W Fuel Cell Power Module flew for 12 hours, 7 minutes, and 5 seconds. This new record was a 380% increase over the last longest multi-rotor flight time at 2 hours, 6 minutes, and 7 seconds. Just by adding Intelligent Energy’s fuel cell power module to DJI’s M600, the UAV quadrupled its flight time. The compact nature of hydrogen allows for a doubling of the power from 2.4 kW to 4.8 kW without any additional hardware.
The M600, which set the Guinness World Record for longest multi-rotor flight time powered by Intelligent Energy’s fuel cells. Source: DroneMajor
EnergyOR, a new subsidiary of FCHEA member Plug Power, is continuing to develop its compact and lightweight hybrid fuel cell / battery platforms for UAV and robotics applications. Shown below is the EPOD EO-310 fuel cell system, with more powerful options on the way.
EnergyOr’s EPOD EO-310 Hybrid Fuel Cell / Battery Power System
EnergyOr has also developed the H2Quad 1000, a multirotor platform capable of a two (2) hour flight time while carrying a 1 kg payload.
EnergyOr’s H2Quad 1000
Doosan Mobility Innovation recently released a record-breaking UAV: the DS30. At a mere 44 lbs., this UAV can fly for over two hours and for up to 44 miles, significantly expanding the range to what conventional drones can do. The DS30 is the world’s first mass-produced commercial drone that can fly over two hours. It can be dispatched to mountainous areas to transport blood or medical supplies, instantly sent to monitor natural disasters, or help manage maritime accidents. The company has partnered with Korea Electric Power Corp. to inspect transmission towers and the state-run forest agency for monitoring forests to prevent nematode infection of pine trees. It is also focusing on surveillance of solar farms, pipelines that stretch over a thousand miles, and mountain areas that frequently catch fire in California.
Digital rendition of the DS30 inspecting the Golden Gate Bridge for anomalies. Source: Doosan
Fuel cells are not just taking to the air, but are going deep into the ocean. Many of the same problems associated with battery-powered UAVs, like short endurance and payload issues, apply to UUVs. In response to this, militaries are jumping at the idea of fuel cell-powered UUVs.
Funded by an award from the Canadian Department of National Defense, Protonex, a subsidiary of Ballard Power, is collaborating with Cellula Robotics to develop an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV). It has the potential to dramatically reduce the cost of ocean exploration, observation, and mapping by allowing users to run month-long underwater autonomous missions, eliminating the necessity and cost of surface launch/retrieval vessels or manned submarines.
The fuel cell-powered UAV and UUV industries are growing rapidly with many new projects and products being announced. The potential for fuel cells to dramatically improve the industry is well-recognized for military and commercial use, and there is only room for growth. Stay tuned to see which world records fuel cell-powered UAVs and UUVs will break this upcoming year!