UAVs

The first autonomous flight of Geoff's Flying Saucer (GFS) Project's Fenstar 50 internal combustion engine-powered, coanda-effect unmanned air vehicle is expected by the end of 2008 following its maiden flight in June.

The Fenstar 50 will have a carbonfibre structure provided by UK composites specialist Lola Group, a two-stroke engine running on an oil/petrol mix and a maximum take-off weight of 18.5kg (40.7lb). Its payload capacity is 5kg and it will carry 4 litres (1.05USgal) of fuel. Depending upon payload its endurance is up to 1h.

The coanda effect that generates the UAV's lift is achieved by blowing air over the saucer-shaped vehicle's curved surface. GFS Project aims to choose an automatic flight system for the flight tests later this year and is now talking to system providers.

The company has completed one evaluation study with US military funding and is preparing another proposal. GFS Project participated in the MIRA team for the UK Ministry of Defence's autonomous vehicle Grand Challenge competition, using its lithium polymer battery-powered prototype.

At the Grand Challenge, GFS Project was joined by a number of vertical take-off and landing vehicles, including Tumbleweed from the University of Manchester. Described as a hex-rotor, this lithium polymer battery-powered vehicle is 1m (3ft) in diameter with a central control box and six rotors on the end of spokes, like a wheel.