Darren QuickOctober 30, 2014ScanEagle 2 UAV prepares for takeoff

The ScanEagle 2 boasts a reciprocating internal combustion engine propulsion system specially developed for small UAVs

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Since its first flight in June 2002 and introduction to the US Navy in 2005, the ScanEagle UAV developed by Boeing subsidiary Insitu has received a steady stream of improvements, including a short-wave infrared (SWIR) camera and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), and clocked up over 800,000 combat flight hours over land and sea. Now Insitu has announced the next generation of the platform in the form of the ScanEagle 2.

Building on its experience with the ScanEagle, the ScanEagle 2 has the same 10.2 ft (3.1 m) wingspan as its predecessor, but is heavier, with an empty weight of 41.8 lb (19 kg) compared to the original's 30.9 to 39.68 lb (14 to 18 kg). However, the ScanEagle 2 boasts a slightly greater payload capacity of 7.7 lb (3.5 kg) to the ScanEagle's 7.5 lb (3.4 kg).

This is partly due to the introduction of a reciprocating internal combustion engine propulsion system that the company says is the first of its kind developed specifically for small unmanned aircraft system class vehicles and helps make the aircraft more affordable and reliable – important attributes as Insitu looks to expand its market beyond the military. The system is modular, with variants fueled by gasoline or heavy fuels (JP-5 or JP-8).

"ScanEagle 2 will shepherd us into the next two decades as we focus on reliability and affordability and enter the civil/commercial market," said Insitu president and CEO, Ryan M. Hartman. "And as ScanEagle has always done, ScanEagle 2 will provide the capability our warfighters have come to expect from Insitu – yet more affordable and more capable."

The ScanEagle 2 shares many of the same capabilities as its predecessor, including operation ceiling – 19,500 ft (5,950 m) – maximum horizontal speed – 80 knots (92 mph, 148 km/h) – and cruise speed – 50 to 60 knots (58 to 69 mph, 93 to 111 km/h). However, endurance takes a hit with the ScanEagle able to stay aloft for over 24 hours, whereas the ScanEagle 2 will start coming back to Earth in around 16 hours.

One of the ScanEagle 2's biggest advantages is its ability to provide 100 to 150 W (depending on engine type) of power to on-board payloads, outdoing the 60 W the ScanEagle can deliver. This, coupled with an Ethernet-based architecture and reduction in Electronic Magnetic Interference (EMI), allows the integration of more sophisticated and electronically sensitive payloads.

Thanks to its open-architecture ground control system, the ScanEagle 2 boasts compatibility with many existing unmanned systems, while its launch-and-recovery system is the same used by Insitu UAV stablemate, the Integrator. The company has also improved the aircraft's image capture capabilities with a fully digital video system.

Insitu revealed the ScanEagle 2 at the Euronaval Exhibition and Conference in Paris this week.

Source: Insitu

扫描鹰2无人机准备起飞

戴伦quickoctober 30，2014scaneagle 2无人机准备takeoff
“扫描鹰”2拥有一个往复式内燃发动机推进系统是专为小型无人机

图像画廊发展（2幅）
自从2002六月首飞，2005的美国海军介绍，由波音公司研制的原位“扫描鹰”无人机已经获得源源不断的改进，包括短波红外（SWIR）相机和合成孔径雷达（SAR），并打了超过800000战斗飞行小时在陆地和海洋。现在现场宣布该平台的下一代在“扫描鹰”2种形式。

建设经验与“扫描鹰”，“扫描鹰”2具有相同的10.2英尺（3.1米）的翼展为它的前身，但较重，有41.8磅重（19公斤空）相比原来的30.9到39.68磅（14至18公斤）。然而，“扫描鹰”2拥有一个稍大的有效载荷能力7.7磅（3.5公斤）的“扫描鹰”的7.5磅（3.4公斤）。

这部分是由于引进往复式内燃发动机推进系统，该公司表示，是一种专门为小型无人驾驶飞机系统类车辆并有助于使飞机更经济实惠和可靠的–重要属性作为现场看起来扩大市场除了军事。该系统是模块化的，由汽油或重的燃料为燃料的变体（JP-5或JP-8）。

“扫描鹰2将引领我们进入下一个二十年，我们专注于可靠性和经济性，进入民用/商用市场，“原位总统首席执行官说，瑞恩·哈特曼。”作为“扫描鹰”一直在做的事情，“扫描鹰”2将提供的能力，我们的战士所期望从原位–但更实惠、更能干。”

“扫描鹰”2共享许多相同的功能，它的前身，包括操作吸–19500英尺（5950米）–最大水平速度–80节（每小时92英里，148公里/小时），巡航速度––50至60海里（58到69英里每小时，93到111公里/小时）。然而，耐力需要击中“扫描鹰”能够在空中停留超过24小时，而“扫描鹰”2将开始回到地球在16小时左右。

一个“扫描鹰”2的最大优点是它能够提供100至150 W（取决于发动机的类型）功率超过60 W星上有效载荷，“扫描鹰”可以提供。这，再加上一个基于以太网的结构和电磁干扰（EMI）减少，允许更复杂的电子敏感有效载荷集成。

由于其开放式架构，地面控制系统，“扫描鹰”2拥有很多现有的无人系统的兼容性，而其发射和回收系统的同时采用原位无人机stablemate，积分器。该公司还提高了飞机的图像捕捉能力与全数字视频系统。

原位显示“扫描鹰”2在euronaval展览和会议本周在巴黎。

来源：原位