Next-gen UAVs – enter the dragonfly

In nature, performance and efficiency are an evolutionary necessity. Animals that walk, swim and fly have honed their movement to use as little energy as possible. Recent developments in computational analysis have allowed the company to evaluate these systems more precisely, that in turn inform the company’s designs. 

One such design is Skeeter, an R&D project to build a small-scale Unmanned Aerial System (UAS), which the company is undertaking with the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, or Dstl, part of the UK's Ministry of Defence.

The project started in 2015, and initially focused on feasibility - research is currently focused on building and testing vehicles.

The overall design is based on the body plan of a dragonfly - dragonflies are very agile in flight, have high endurance and are able to glide.

Flapping wing propulsion has been chosen, as it enables gliding, is quiet, and is highly efficient. Unlike a vertical rotor, wings have symmetrical drag characteristics, and inbuilt suspension, which make them particularly good at tolerating turbulent air.

Use cases
The initial use for Skeeter is as a short range surveillance platform, for situational awareness - with the ability to operate in high wind conditions and fly longer distances on lower power than existing small UAS. Small UAS are currently in use by the military, and have proven valuable when weather conditions allow. Skeeter is designed to extend the capability of small UAS, resulting in a vehicle that can operate in a greater range of conditions.

Skeeter also has uses in search and rescue, surveying and agriculture - and in particular where small scale hovering UAS with high gust tolerance, high speed and greater endurance are required.

Facts and figures
Length: 120mm
Weight: less than 50g
Noise: about the same as a dragonfly
Speed: 45km/h
Materials: multiple composites