A collaboration between team RaptorUAS and Horizon Energy Systems backed by North Colorado Search and Rescue ESS team.
RaptorUAS leads this project to set loiter endurance and a distance record using commercially available Fuel Cell and a small UAV to fly over the North Sea powered by gas Hydrogen.
Why climb the highest mountain, why set high goals?
"...all great and honorable actions are accompanied with great difficulties, and both must be enterprised and overcome with answerable courage" William Bradford 1630. The only way to advance humanity is by taking deeds never tried before to take the challenge, to learn, innovate and progress.
We want to fly the first commercial UAV around the Earth using hydrogen and renewable energy in one non-stop flight.
But first things first! Before we get there we will set another record: for the first time a commercial UAV and Hydrogen Fuel Cell setup will fly from Scotland to Norway in a 300 km non-stop flight. This will help further optimize our current system and set the new state-of-the-art in civilian UAV abilities.
While we are doing this not only we are improving the aircraft performance but we will donate one operational system to the North Colorado Search and Rescue team for use in Search and Rescue operations. In fact, for every additional £10,000.00 we raise we will donate an additional system to a Search and Rescue team in the USA.
Technology is useless if not serving a good cause and we can't find a better application than putting our systems in aid of Search and Rescue teams that help save lives every year.
We have developed a highly optimized low drag 3 meter wingspan system.
# Ultra-lightweight and durable construction
# Optimised power train
# Reduced drag from optimisation of profile drag
# Integrated health monitoring
Unique features of the Raptor E1 include the natural laminar flow fuselage which reduces profile drag and a new set of aerodynamically optimised airfoils to maximize range. The lightweight construction was achieved through an iteration of composite lamination schedule experiments that finally yield the optimum setup for our system. Extensive use of nomex honeycomb and a combination of ultra-lightweight carbon fibre fabric and aramid make a great combination of ruggedness and lightweight. A dedicated micro-controller oversees health monitoring and uses logging for continuous maintenance.
In the meantime Horizon Energy Systems developed an efficient gas Hydrogen Fuel Cell that fits perfectly with the performance of Raptor E1. The new fuel cell has the capacity to revolutionize electric flight and we our proud to be putting the system to a "test". The combination of the high energy storage achieved by Horizon's Fuel Cell with our optimized low drag platform resulted in a cutting-edge flying system.
We need to make some preparations in the run for the record
# Fuel Cell Power integration
# Fuel Cell "Air" tests
# Maximum Loiter "Air" test
# Loiter Endurance Attempt
# Head for Norway
Following successful completion of ground tests we will proceed with test flights. The purpose of these test flights is diverse. We will obtain data to optimize propeller requirement for maximum endurance and range. We will make adjustments to make sure the aircraft-fuel cell setup runs smoothly and accurately define the flying range of the combined system.
REWARDS
With the exception of the reward to join us in the speedboat during the record breaking attempt, all other rewards will be distributed in a timely manner and at the times indicated.
International cross-border Operation: While we have already been granted an exemption by the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority to fly into their airspace from the UK, weather is beyond our control. We will do tests and optimize the system over land to gather data of estimated distance expected to achieve. In the occasion of accident while testing we will provide another system to continue the campaign provided that there is no incurred damage to the fuel cell. If we are unable to find a suitable weather window to attempt the flight we will seek to set an alternative over land distance record.
As this is the first time we are flying this combination of power generation with a UAS it is not impossible to experience a catastrophic event prior to the record attempt. All safety measures will be taken as per our standard commercial experience. We will proceed timely and carefuly along every step of the campaign to mitigate any risks.
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