Eurolink Systems, the Italian provider of hardware, software, data-management, and robotics systems, is launching Beluga, the first of a family of multi-roll, multi-mission, unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) with which the company seeks to enter the U.S. drone market.
Beluga’s sleek design is evocative of the Beluga whale, from which the vehicle takes its name. Researchers at both Eurolink and Italy’s University Niccolo ?usano studied the marine mammal’s morphology and translated aspects of its physiology into the design of Beluga’s fuselage.
Additional cues from nature and Signore Leonardo da Vinci were applied to the design of Beluga’s rotor-blades, which are patterned after the planform and cross-section of an owl’s wing. The non-ornithologically inclined are reminded that owls’ wings are virtually soundless in flight.
The end-result of Eurolink’s design-safari is an aesthetically-pleasing, whisper-quiet vehicle capable of carrying aloft a maximum payload of 33-kilograms or a lighter, 1.5-kilogram load for up to one-hour. Beluga is designed to fly in harsh weather conditions within a temperature-range of -25° to +55°C. The vehicle’s 110-kph (69-mph) top speed underscores its suitability to time-sensitive undertakings such as: emergency medical transportation of blood, plasma, and pharmaceuticals; search and rescue, security, surveillance, and military missions; and large-scale agricultural operations.
Pietro Lapiana – President and Founder of EuroLink Systems states, “Beluga is a culmination of EuroLink’s decades of technology innovation and experience, which has now been implanted into the Beluga family of mini-drones. Given our experience within the European market – it is now time to extend our influence and build our position and business base in the U.S. Market … “
Planned, future iterations of the Beluga platform include tilt-rotor and marine variants which—despite outward dissimilarities—will share a common electronic infrastructure and control-interface with the original model.
Aero-TV is a production of the Internationally syndicated Aero-News Network. Seen worldwide by hundreds of thousands of aviators and aviation adherents, ANN's Aero-TV has produced over 5000 aviation and feature programs, including nearly 2000 episodes of our daily aviation news program, AIRBORNE UNLIMITED, currently hosted by Holland Lee. Now in its third decade of operation, parent company Aero-News Network, has the most aggressive and intensive editorial profile of any aviation news organization and has published nearly a half-million news and feature stories since its inception -- having pioneered the online 24/7 aviation new-media model that so many have emulated.
Inversion to Launch Reentry Vehicle Demonstrator Aboard SpaceX Falcon 9 This fall, the aerospace startup Inversion is set to launch its Ray reentry demonstrator capsule aboard Spac>[...]
"We are excited to accelerate the adoption of electric aviation technology and further our journey towards a sustainable future. The agreement with magniX underscores our commitmen>[...]
"The journey to this achievement started nearly a decade ago when a freshly commissioned Gentry, driven by a fascination with new technologies and a desire to contribute significan>[...]
Aero Linx: OX5 Aviation Pioneers Each year a national reunion of OX5 Aviation Pioneers is hosted by one of the Wings in the organization. The reunions attract much attention as man>[...]
"Our driven and innovative team of military and civilian Airmen delivers combat power daily, ensuring our nation is ready today and tomorrow." Source: General Duke Richardson, AFMC>[...]
SpaceX to Launch Inversion RAY Reentry Vehicle in Fall
See All