United Airlines plans to provide eVTOL service, hydrogen transportation for fuel cell UAVs, flying an uncrewed aircraft through a hurricane, drones meet law enforcement and privacy, and drones for STEM.
United Airlines plans to have a role in the urban air mobility market with “last mile” transportation between airports and urban destinations using low-emission electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
The United eVTOL will be developed by partner Archer and carry four passengers up to 60 miles at speeds up to 150 miles per hour. United and regional affiliate Mesa Airlines have committed to purchase up to 200 of the planes in a deal valued at $1 billion.
Without a special rated valve, transportation of full UAV-compatible hydrogen cylinders is not permitted. In the EU, the Transportable Pressure Equipment Directive (TPED) specifies the safety requirements for transportable pressure equipment used exclusively for the transport of dangerous goods (Class 2) within the Union. Transportable pressure equipment is required to bear the Pi marking to indicate compliance with the directive. The US DoT also has a similar requirement.
Intelligent Energy, which offers hydrogen fuel cell modules and accessories for UAVs, developed the rated Pressure Tech CV414 valve. With it, you can transport full cylinders of hydrogen for powering drones. Andy Kelly, Head of UAV Product Development at Intelligent Energy says, “Now full UAV compatible cylinders can be transported; the next logical step is to get them delivered directly to our customers. We want it to be as straightforward as ordering barbecue gas and getting empty cylinders collected.”
Promotional video: Fuel cell power for UAVs
Last month, NOAA scientists launched a small research drone from a Hurricane Hunter plane to collect weather data used for hurricane forecasts. The Altius-600 uncrewed aircraft created by Area-I was adapted for sampling weather data, can fly up to four hours and up to 265 miles, and is not recoverable after being used in a storm.
nAn Altius uncrewed research drone similar to those being tested by scientists aboard NOAA Hurricane Hunters. Courtesy of Area-I via NOAA.
The Altius-600 is the first of three small uncrewed aircraft systems NOAA is testing. The research supports NOAA’s Uncrewed
