Watch out for that e-Juba on your next cross country
Posted: Sat Dec 01, 2007 6:27 pm
I have posted the following on AVCOM, but thought it would be of interest to us low and slow flying pilots as well....
In the latest issue of the South African Medical Journal the development of e-Juba, a preliminary concept of an unmanned aerial vehicle is discussed. The idea behind this is an aerial mode of transporting microbiological test samples from remote rural clinics to laboratories, where normal modes of transport is too slow or impossible. Results will be SMSed back.
In short, these “transport vehicles†are similar to remote controlled model aircraft, is designed to transport a payload of up to 500g over a distance of 40km, and take off autonomously, route via multiples GPS waypoints to a target and landing will be autonomous.
A novel idea, but imagine the impact on aviation of these benign air to air missiles! Unfortunately the article does not discuss the implications on aviation.
I quote selectively from the article, omitting the medical arguments for such a delivery system:
This report describes the specifications and preliminary trials of e-Juba, a mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) designed to transport a payload of up to 500 g over a distance of up to 40 km via multiple Global Positioning System (GPS) Lat/Long/ Alt waypoints to a specified target. The conception and design of the aircraft and its payload have been guided by recent developments in the following: molecular diagnostics, which facilitate reduction in sample size and novel dried spot format to eliminate biological hazard and to bypass the cold chain; lithium polymer chemistry for low-weight batteries; brushless electro mechanics which enhance the efficiency and reliability of electric motors; GPS and differential GPS technology to facilitate unmanned navigation; micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) technologies for miniaturised inertial guidance systems including three-dimensional gyros and accelerometers to facilitate autonomous aircraft stability; ultrasound ground detection technologies; multiple other onboard detectors and telemetric devices, and the GSM data wireless networks for post-analytical communication of results.
UAVs typically comprise an airframe, a propulsion device, and avionic systems. Airframes range in size from less than 1 metre wingspan (MicroUAV) to massive high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) aircraft weighing several tons and with wingspans in excess of 20 metres. This communication describes the design specification and preliminary test flights of e-Juba (electronic pigeon), a NHLS-Denel Dynamics joint venture to develop a UAV capable of transporting a payload of up to 500 g over a distance of 40 km. The payload is specified to accommodate medical diagnostic samples, but could also be applicable to carrying urgently required medications such as rabies immune globulin, anti-snakebite serum or packed red cells (the current e-Juba airframe could be modified to carry a maximum of two units, whose weight would not exceed the payload design specification). To eliminate biohazards posed by infectious body fluids, the project envisages the use of dried spot technologies coupled to molecular diagnostic methodologies, which are already in widespread service within the NHLS. Denel Dynamics have 25 years of experience in the design, manufacture, operation and sales of sophisticated UAV systems.
The propulsion method for UAVs may be based on gas turbine, conventional internal combustion or electric power systems. Recent developments in battery technologies have rendered electric power an entirely suitable modality for small UAVs. These include lithium polymer (LiPo) batteries based on lithium chemistry, which have enabled significant improvements in battery capacity, as measured in milliamp hours, per gram of mass, over traditional nickel metal hydride, nickel cadmium or lead plate accumulators. In parallel with these developments, electric motors employing electronic brushless current distribution systems, instead of mechanical commutators, have dramatically improved the efficiency, power to weight ratios and reliability of such motors, in comparison with traditional electric motors. Preliminary eJuba test flights were conducted with a commercial off-theshelf (COTS) airframe and internal combustion motor, but the current prototype is powered by a BPo powered brushless motor.
Avionic systems for UAVs are centred on navigation systems utilising the Global Positioning System. The widespread commercial deployment of GPS devices has effectively commoditised this technology to a level where programmable low-cost, high-reliability navigation is generally available. In addition to unmanned navigation, UAV avionics also include systems to govern autonomous flight stability, which include three-dimensional gyros and accelerometers, electronic compasses, and ground detection technologies (AGL) based on ultrasound emitters and detectors. The latter technology is required for the precision demanded of autonomous landing missions. E-Juba is currently guided by the imported commercially available MicroPilotTM system, which integrates all these functions, and includes barometric altitude and airspeed determinations (Fig. 1). The basic GPS pilot (excluding antenna), barometric sensors and flight stability systems weighs in at only 28 g. Up to 1 000 waypoints, defined in 3D space as latitude/longitude/altitude, may be programmed into the pilot for autonomous low-level guided flights over complex terrain contours. Comprehensive on board radiobased telemetric functions are also provided in the various prototypes to permit ground-based monitoring of flights in real time. These will be omitted from the final implementation to save weight and cost, but actual telemetric readouts from a test flight are presented in this communication (Fig. 2).
Preliminary proof of concept trials with the custom built airframe (Fig. 3) have demonstrated successful autonomous takeoff, autonomous GPS guided flight via three-dimensional (latitude/longitude/altitude) waypoints, a range of up to 53 km, and autonomous landing capability. Further trials will be focused on improving reliability sufficiently for field use.
In the latest issue of the South African Medical Journal the development of e-Juba, a preliminary concept of an unmanned aerial vehicle is discussed. The idea behind this is an aerial mode of transporting microbiological test samples from remote rural clinics to laboratories, where normal modes of transport is too slow or impossible. Results will be SMSed back.
In short, these “transport vehicles†are similar to remote controlled model aircraft, is designed to transport a payload of up to 500g over a distance of 40km, and take off autonomously, route via multiples GPS waypoints to a target and landing will be autonomous.
A novel idea, but imagine the impact on aviation of these benign air to air missiles! Unfortunately the article does not discuss the implications on aviation.
I quote selectively from the article, omitting the medical arguments for such a delivery system:
This report describes the specifications and preliminary trials of e-Juba, a mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) designed to transport a payload of up to 500 g over a distance of up to 40 km via multiple Global Positioning System (GPS) Lat/Long/ Alt waypoints to a specified target. The conception and design of the aircraft and its payload have been guided by recent developments in the following: molecular diagnostics, which facilitate reduction in sample size and novel dried spot format to eliminate biological hazard and to bypass the cold chain; lithium polymer chemistry for low-weight batteries; brushless electro mechanics which enhance the efficiency and reliability of electric motors; GPS and differential GPS technology to facilitate unmanned navigation; micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) technologies for miniaturised inertial guidance systems including three-dimensional gyros and accelerometers to facilitate autonomous aircraft stability; ultrasound ground detection technologies; multiple other onboard detectors and telemetric devices, and the GSM data wireless networks for post-analytical communication of results.
UAVs typically comprise an airframe, a propulsion device, and avionic systems. Airframes range in size from less than 1 metre wingspan (MicroUAV) to massive high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) aircraft weighing several tons and with wingspans in excess of 20 metres. This communication describes the design specification and preliminary test flights of e-Juba (electronic pigeon), a NHLS-Denel Dynamics joint venture to develop a UAV capable of transporting a payload of up to 500 g over a distance of 40 km. The payload is specified to accommodate medical diagnostic samples, but could also be applicable to carrying urgently required medications such as rabies immune globulin, anti-snakebite serum or packed red cells (the current e-Juba airframe could be modified to carry a maximum of two units, whose weight would not exceed the payload design specification). To eliminate biohazards posed by infectious body fluids, the project envisages the use of dried spot technologies coupled to molecular diagnostic methodologies, which are already in widespread service within the NHLS. Denel Dynamics have 25 years of experience in the design, manufacture, operation and sales of sophisticated UAV systems.
The propulsion method for UAVs may be based on gas turbine, conventional internal combustion or electric power systems. Recent developments in battery technologies have rendered electric power an entirely suitable modality for small UAVs. These include lithium polymer (LiPo) batteries based on lithium chemistry, which have enabled significant improvements in battery capacity, as measured in milliamp hours, per gram of mass, over traditional nickel metal hydride, nickel cadmium or lead plate accumulators. In parallel with these developments, electric motors employing electronic brushless current distribution systems, instead of mechanical commutators, have dramatically improved the efficiency, power to weight ratios and reliability of such motors, in comparison with traditional electric motors. Preliminary eJuba test flights were conducted with a commercial off-theshelf (COTS) airframe and internal combustion motor, but the current prototype is powered by a BPo powered brushless motor.
Avionic systems for UAVs are centred on navigation systems utilising the Global Positioning System. The widespread commercial deployment of GPS devices has effectively commoditised this technology to a level where programmable low-cost, high-reliability navigation is generally available. In addition to unmanned navigation, UAV avionics also include systems to govern autonomous flight stability, which include three-dimensional gyros and accelerometers, electronic compasses, and ground detection technologies (AGL) based on ultrasound emitters and detectors. The latter technology is required for the precision demanded of autonomous landing missions. E-Juba is currently guided by the imported commercially available MicroPilotTM system, which integrates all these functions, and includes barometric altitude and airspeed determinations (Fig. 1). The basic GPS pilot (excluding antenna), barometric sensors and flight stability systems weighs in at only 28 g. Up to 1 000 waypoints, defined in 3D space as latitude/longitude/altitude, may be programmed into the pilot for autonomous low-level guided flights over complex terrain contours. Comprehensive on board radiobased telemetric functions are also provided in the various prototypes to permit ground-based monitoring of flights in real time. These will be omitted from the final implementation to save weight and cost, but actual telemetric readouts from a test flight are presented in this communication (Fig. 2).
Preliminary proof of concept trials with the custom built airframe (Fig. 3) have demonstrated successful autonomous takeoff, autonomous GPS guided flight via three-dimensional (latitude/longitude/altitude) waypoints, a range of up to 53 km, and autonomous landing capability. Further trials will be focused on improving reliability sufficiently for field use.
