Unmanned Phoenix pseudo-satellite rises for maiden flight
Engineers from the University of Southampton have powered a pioneering form of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) which has completed its first fully autonomous flight in Portsmouth.
The Phoenix ultra-long-endurance aeroplane uses the concept of variable-buoyancy propulsion that has been previously been explored in underwater engineering.
The 15m-long craft, which has been designed by experts from UK universities, companies and innovation centres, will be used in atmospheric satellite applications.
Professor Andrew Cruden , Head of Southampton’s Energy Technology Group, and Associate Professor Dr Richard Wills have guided the development of a solar-powered battery pack which powers the UAV’s pumps, valves and flight-control surfaces.
The prototype was flown over a distance of 120m at the Drystack facility in Trafalgar Wharf last month, concluding more than two years of collaborative design, manufacture, assembly and testing.
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