Collaboration Designed To Further Develop Unmanned Aerial Technology

UltraCell Corporation, announced Monday it plans to build fuel cell systems for the Center for Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAV) Exploitation (CUE) in its Dayton, Ohio, manufacturing plant. UltraCell will initially build 10 units based on the company's XX25 reformed methanol fuel cell (RMFC) technology, with potential to expand production in the future.

Funded by the State of Ohio Third Frontier Project, the CUE is a collaborative effort between local Dayton-area businesses, academic institutions and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton. The CUE was developed to improve integration between UAV controls, wireless communications, advanced sensor technology and portable power.

UltraCell's XX25 delivers extended runtime and offers low weight, crucial benefits for designing portable power solutions for aerial vehicles. The XX25 has achieved the military's Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 7 status demonstrating operation in relevant environments. In addition, the XX25 has successfully completed numerous MIL-STD-810F Environmental Tests, including altitude, making it an ideal power source for applications such as UAVs.

"We're delighted to be able to participate in the Center for UAV Exploitation's work in Dayton," said UltraCell CEO Keith Scott. "We see tremendous opportunity for UAV applications both in the military and commercial markets and believe our fuel cell technology is a perfect power solution for these systems."

With a market expected to grow tremendously over the next five years, UAV research and development done by the CUE will focus on control, communications, power and sensor solutions for vehicles weighing 150 pounds or less. Success with smaller vehicles that boast greater maneuverability, increased mobility and lower cost is expected to carry over into the larger UAV and manned aircraft markets. Systems designed by the CUE will be some of the first UAVs commercialized in non-defense applications.

Other CUE participants include BAE Systems, Co-operative Engineering Services, Inc (CESI), the Institute for the Development and Commercialization of Advanced Sensor Technology (IDCAST), L3 Communications Nova Engineering, STAN Solutions, TecEdgeWorks, Defense Research Associates (DRA) and the University of Dayton Research Institute.

FMI: www.ultracellpower.com