World first as HMS Mersey launches 3D-printed mini drone
by rnn@codestorm.co.uk(Royal Navy News) via Royal Navy News
Pictures: LA(Phot) Guy Pool THIS is a world first in naval aviation. The catapult shuttle of a tiny drone falls away as it takes to the skies off Chesil Beach – and HMS Mersey launches a 3D-printed aircraft for the first time. The small aircraft made a 500-metre flight from the fishery patrol ship and on to the pebble shore in an experiment led by scientists from the University of Southampton. They designed and printed the unmanned ‘SULSA’ (Southampton University Laser-Sintered Aircraft) – at three-kilogramme it weighs the equivalent of three bags of sugar – fitted an engine and camera and looked for a suitable test bed. They found it in the RN as sailors from First Sea Lord Admiral Sir George Zambellas down try to harness the power of the white heat of unmanned vehicle technology. The Navy is hosting its first ‘robot wars’ in October next year and is already heavily using ScanEagle remote-controlled surveillance aircraft on operations in the Gulf. SULSA is less than half the size of ScanEagle. The aircraft is made of nylon, printed in four major parts and assembled without the use of any tools. It cruises at nearly 60mph and is all but noiseless thanks to its tiny engine. The maiden flight from Mersey lasted no more than five minutes and was recorded both from the ship courtesy of the university’s ‘control van’ and from the aircraft’s on-board mini video camera. “The Royal Navy has learned a considerable amount from operating ScanEagle in the Middle East and we’re thinking about how we carry out intelligence gathering, surveillance and reconnaissance in the future,” said Cdr Bow Wheaton, the RN’s Commander Maritime Capability (Aviation), “A 3D-printed aircraft is relatively simple, relatively cheap and can be launched with relative ease – the demonstration was very successful.” The trial on Mersey was prompted by a visit by Admiral Zambellas to Southampton University – where he studied aeronautics 35 years ago – when he was shown developments in unmanned aircraft by Prof Andy Keane, who was delighted by the “remarkably successful” trial on the warship. Admiral Zambellas said the test launch on Mersey was “a small glimpse into the innovation and forward thinking that is now embedded in our Navy's approach” to unmanned systems. “It's well known that our first squadron of remotely piloted aircraft have proven their worth in the Gulf, providing persistent airborne surveillance across huge areas of sea. “We are after more and greater capability in this field which delivers huge value for money. And, because it's new technology, with young people behind it, we're having fun doing it.”
by rnn@codestorm.co.uk(Royal Navy News) via Royal Navy News
Pictures: LA(Phot) Guy Pool THIS is a world first in naval aviation. The catapult shuttle of a tiny drone falls away as it takes to the skies off Chesil Beach – and HMS Mersey launches a 3D-printed aircraft for the first time. The small aircraft made a 500-metre flight from the fishery patrol ship and on to the pebble shore in an experiment led by scientists from the University of Southampton. They designed and printed the unmanned ‘SULSA’ (Southampton University Laser-Sintered Aircraft) – at three-kilogramme it weighs the equivalent of three bags of sugar – fitted an engine and camera and looked for a suitable test bed. They found it in the RN as sailors from First Sea Lord Admiral Sir George Zambellas down try to harness the power of the white heat of unmanned vehicle technology. The Navy is hosting its first ‘robot wars’ in October next year and is already heavily using ScanEagle remote-controlled surveillance aircraft on operations in the Gulf. SULSA is less than half the size of ScanEagle. The aircraft is made of nylon, printed in four major parts and assembled without the use of any tools. It cruises at nearly 60mph and is all but noiseless thanks to its tiny engine. The maiden flight from Mersey lasted no more than five minutes and was recorded both from the ship courtesy of the university’s ‘control van’ and from the aircraft’s on-board mini video camera. “The Royal Navy has learned a considerable amount from operating ScanEagle in the Middle East and we’re thinking about how we carry out intelligence gathering, surveillance and reconnaissance in the future,” said Cdr Bow Wheaton, the RN’s Commander Maritime Capability (Aviation), “A 3D-printed aircraft is relatively simple, relatively cheap and can be launched with relative ease – the demonstration was very successful.” The trial on Mersey was prompted by a visit by Admiral Zambellas to Southampton University – where he studied aeronautics 35 years ago – when he was shown developments in unmanned aircraft by Prof Andy Keane, who was delighted by the “remarkably successful” trial on the warship. Admiral Zambellas said the test launch on Mersey was “a small glimpse into the innovation and forward thinking that is now embedded in our Navy's approach” to unmanned systems. “It's well known that our first squadron of remotely piloted aircraft have proven their worth in the Gulf, providing persistent airborne surveillance across huge areas of sea. “We are after more and greater capability in this field which delivers huge value for money. And, because it's new technology, with young people behind it, we're having fun doing it.”
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