Partners With U.K.-Based Fuel Cell Company Intelligent Energy

A few weeks after introducing its FlightWave Edge UAS, FlightWave Aerospace Systems, Inc. has now introduced its hydrogen-powered Jupiter-H2 UAS, which is the company’s second offering to the UAS community. Thanks to a partnership with a U.K.-based fuel cell company called Intelligent Energy, FlightWave was able to equip the Jupiter-H2 UAS with the hydrogen fuel cell technology that powers the aircraft.

The hydrogen fuel cell technology gives the UAS, which uses a “narrow-profile 70 cm airframe, with a high-thrust power plant consisting of eight motors driving cross-flowing fan blades,” several distinct features, such as its heavy-lifting capability. FlightWave notes that extra energy and lighter energy means more power to lift and carry the respective sensors of a user. In total, the UAS can lift up to nearly three pounds of payload, which allows for simultaneous use of numerous sensors and cameras. Thanks to the UAS' universal mount system, almost any sensor or camera can be used on it.

Hydrogen fuel cell technology also gives the UAS greater endurance, as the UAS’ three-liter hydrogen tank fuels approximately two hours of continuous flight, depending on payloads.

Lastly, the UAS is “Clean, Quiet, and Green” since fuel cells are pollution-free, as they emit only a little bit of water vapor, which is clean enough to drink. Fuel cells also have no moving parts, are virtually silent, and power can be drawn directly from the fuel cell by subsystems, which eliminates the need for those systems to carry their own batteries, and ultimately reduces overall weight.

With all of these features, FlightWave CMO Edmund Cronin says that the Jupiter-H2 UAS is in a league of its own. “We view the Jupiter-H2 as a game-changing vehicle,” Cronin says. “It’s particularly well suited to use cases requiring both long flight time and stable maneuverability in narrow indoor or outdoor spaces — for example, in a very large but cramped warehouse.”

Cronin also acknowledges the important role that Intelligent Energy played in the development of this new UAS. “Our partnership with Intelligent Energy has been a key element of the Jupiter-H2’s development,” Cronin said. “They are pushing the limits of hydrogen fuel cell technology, making the fuel cell lighter yet more powerful.”

Julian Hughes, Senior VP of IE US Inc, comments, “we are delighted to be working with FlightWave, a company which shares our vision and passion for creating innovative solutions to realize the full potential of commercial UASs.”

(Image provided with FlightWave news release)

FMI: www.flightwave.aero