Three-month endurance the aim for QinetiQ’s Zephyr UAV

QinetiQ revealed today that it is currently engaged in a development programme for the Zephyr High-Altitude, Long-Endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (HALE UAV) to ready its flight controls and power systems for extended flight.

The developments build on Zephyr’s recent successful trial at the White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, USA which proved that a low-cost UAV can provide persistent operations at high altitudes.

A particular focus of the current programme is further refinements to Zephyr’s rechargeable batteries with the aim of flying for weeks and then months. Zephyr uses solar power to fly at altitudes in excess of 60,000 feet during the day while storing sufficient energy in its rechargeable batteries to power it overnight without falling below 50,000 feet, so staying above normal commercial airlanes and most weather.

Paul Davey, Development Director for the Zephyr UAV said: “At present long endurance is measured in terms of hours. Ultimately we are thinking in terms of months. The current development programme has the potential to extend Zephyr’s mission endurance to around three months, which could force a wholesale change to the way in which the industry thinks about UAV operations.”

QinetiQ is also developing a desktop simulator for operator training and a range of payload sensors that are both ultra-lightweight and robust.

At present Zephyr utilises a removable payload pod that can carry a lightweight electro-optical sensor or a communications relay payload. With the optical sensor payload, the HALE UAV can be used to conduct persistent surveillance using GPS waypoint navigation to remain on station. Remote sensing applications include low-cost long-term battlespace awareness for military customers and a range of commercial tasks such as mapping, traffic management, disaster relief and fire detection.
Paul Davey commented: “With Zephyr we have found a new niche – providing a low-cost, persistent capability using solar-electric propulsion. Zephyr can meet a wide range of civil, defence and security applications. For military customers, it can play a major role in providing low cost battle-space awareness but it has also been selected as the platform for the Belgian Mercator HALE UAV system, a remote sensing demonstrator that will be used for mapping.”