HEU UAV
UAV | |
---|---|
Role | Fixed-wing UAV |
National origin | China |
Manufacturer | HEU |
Designer | HEU |
First flight | 2013 |
Introduction | 2013 |
Status | In service |
Primary user | China |
|
HEU UAVs are Chinese UAVs developed by Harbin Engineering University (HEU), and as of the latter half of 2014, all of UAVs fielded by HEU are experimental UAVs intended to explore potential application of new technologies for UAV.
Twin engine UAV
Twin engine UAV is an experimental UAV developed by HEU to explore the application of light weight alloy on UAV. The light weight alloy used to construct the airframe of this twin engine UAV is magnesium-lithium alloy. According to the general designer Mr. Jia Lu (贾璐), a senior undergraduate student of HEU, the Mg-Li alloy is almost as llight as plastics but also stronger than steel, so UAV constructed of Mg-Li alloy would have greater endurance due to reduced weight. Plans are made to continue the research. The existence of this twin engine UAV constructed of Mg-Li alloy is formally revealed for the very first time in June 2013 when it won a first place award along with twenty-two other designs in the Western Steel Cup (Xi Gang Bei, 西钢杯) competition held at HEU. Western Steel Cup is a competition for designs of college students on material science and engineering innovation, and at the June 2013 competition, there was a total of ninety-eight designs by over five hundred students from sixteen universities, and this twin engine UAV constructed of Mg-Li alloy is one of them.[1] The twin engine UAV is in twin-boom layout with high wing configuration with tricycle landing gear and winglets. Propulsion is provided by a pair of two-blade propeller driven tractor engines mounted at the forward tip of each boom. A unique design feature of this UAV is that its twin vertical stabilizers jointed by a beam are in front of tailplanes.[2]
Rocket-launched UAV
Rocket-launched UAV is a Chinese UAV currently under development by HEU, and it is intended to be launched by rocket. based The complete name of this UAV is Rapid Reaction UAV Based on Solid Rocket Technology (Ji-Yu Gu-Ti Huo-Jian Fa-Dong-Ji de Kuai-Su Fan-Ying Wu-Ren-Ji, 基于固体火箭发动机技术的快速反应无人机), and it is designed by a team of four students of HEU led by Mr. Shen Jun-Nan (沈俊楠), assisted by Professor Mr. Wu Xian-De (吴限德) to provide guidance. The other three members of the design team are Mr. Wang Yu-Yao (王雨尧), Mr. Wang Ya-Wei (王亚威) and Mr. Zhang Wei-Chu (张维楚).[1] The UAV is designed to be housed in a rocket round as a payload, and after launch, UAV would separate from the rocket and perform its mission. The design of rocket-launched UAV was rejected five times before it was finalized during the sixth attempt, and its existence was formally revealed to the public for the very first time in September 2013 when it won Innovation New Star Award at the AVIC Cup competition. A significant portion of the design work was devoted to redesign of flight control system to survive the g-force during the launch of the rocket, and to correct the errors generated during the separation of the UAV and the rocket booster.[2] Work has continued to improve the reliability of the system after the competition. Specification:[3]
- Wingspan (m): 1.2
- Rocket diameter (m): 0.16
See also
List of unmanned aerial vehicles of the People's Republic of China
References
- 1 2 "Alloy UAV". Retrieved Jun 10, 2013.
- 1 2 "Alloy Unmanned aerial vehicle". Retrieved Jun 15, 2013.
- ↑ "Rocket-launched UAV". Retrieved Oct 9, 2013.