HOERBIGER-ORIGA DRONES ON A SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH
Pneumatic cylinders have long been recognized
for their high speed capability, however, rarely are their limits
tested to the extent that Hoerbiger-Origa rodless cylinders are
in a unique application designed for the US defense industry.
The Dragon Drone UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle)
system produced by BAI Aerosystems provides land and sea forces
the ability to perform reconnaissance, surveillance, and battle
damage assessment operations, with minimal risk to personnel and
detection.
The delta wind drone is tailored from state
of the art composite materials and is typically powered by a highly
efficient 2-stroke gasoline engine. Two personnel normally operate
the drone, one controlling the programmable autopilot system and
the other the payload, usually a daytime or night vision camera
system.
To minimize the necessary engine size, eliminate
the need for an under-carriage and ensure the most rapid, safe
and reliable deployment of drones, BAI required an effective launch
system.
Two rodless pneumatic cylinders from Hoerbiger-Origa
form the core of the launcher system. The two 80mm bore units
with 3meter stroke fully support the drone launch platform. The
launcher is charged to about 8bar pressure using bottled nitrogen
or compressed air from a light duty mobile compressor. Control
valves and air supply lines are carefully tailored to provide
the highest possible flow rates and response, which ensures that
the 50Kg drone is accelerated to a minimum flight speed of 100
km/hr (28m/s) by the end of the cylinder’s stroke. Linear deceleration
of the launch platform and piston and assemblies is achieved using
specialist shock absorbers integrated into the cylinder end caps.
By utilizing rodless cylinder technology, the
launcher is self-contained and enables the rapid deployment of
drones in quick succession. Compared to alternative launcher systems
it eliminates the dangerous and expensive use of consumable launch
pistons and interface hardware, and is readily adaptable for shipboard
applications.
Following extensive trials and service use
in the Gulf war, drones are fast becoming essential items for
modern armed forces. Not only are they low cost and relatively
expendable, they are extremely difficult to detect and due to
their small size are even more difficult to shoot down. In addition
to reconnaissance and forward observation duties, drones have
wide potential in other military applications, including: delivering
pepper spray for crowd/ riot dispersal; pamphlet distribution;
the dispersal of acoustic and magnetic sensors for identification
of passing vehicles; the deployment of specialist ordinance devices
and the detection of biological agents.