HiDRON completes flights tests at 82,000ft

12th February 2019 - 09:30 GMT | by The Shephard News Team

RSS

UAVOS and Stratodynamics Aviation have successfully completed the next stage of flights tests of the HiDRON earth observation platform to an altitude of 82,000ft, UAVOS announced on 6 February.

The night flight lasted for four hours, including the one-hour weather balloon launch period with an average climb rate at 6.8m/s. The return flight lasted for about three hours. During the test, the system operated in headwinds up to 180km/h, -60° C temperatures, experienced wing icing and returned and landed autonomously.

The HiDRON’s flight stabilisation after balloon release and tuning the UAS controls and components for stratospheric flight were prime objectives of the mission. During the flight, operators checked the performance of the HiDRON’s avionic systems, flight characteristics, safety features, instrument integration and auxiliary tracking systems including a transponder.

The HiDRON also carried atmospheric measurement systems onboard. The payload collected meteorological data with atmospheric instruments and transmitted to the ground station in real-time. The obtained performance data will be used for the next stage of testing at an altitude of 98,000ft.

The HiDRON, a joint project of UAVOS and Stratodynamics Aviation, is a fixed wing glider integrated with meteorological equipment and launched by a stratospheric helium-filled weather balloon. With 3.4m wingspan, the HiDRON weighs under 5kg and is capable of carrying a measurement instrument weighing up to 1kg.

Author

The Shephard News Team

As part of our promise to deliver comprehensive coverage to Premium News and Defence Insight …

Read full bio

More from Uncrewed Vehicles

Maris-Tech confirms customers signing up for Jupiter Drones codec and AI-powered system

Launched at AUSA in October, the company’s multi-stream video codec is attempting to bring a new lease of life to drone technology through its AI accelerator.
AUSA 2024: Quantum-Systems targets big 2025 with UAS developments

Quantum-Systems has been upgrading its UAS family, with new versions of the Vector, Reliant and Twister drones set for release throughout 2025.
US Army accelerates acquisition and field of company-level sUAS

The service has been using a Directed Requirement (DR) approach to speed up the deployment of a Medium Range Reconnaissance capability.
AeroVironment to display eVTOL P550 at AUSA 2024

AeroVironment’s portfolio will grow thanks to the eVTOL P550 aimed at battalion-level tactical forces.
Australia’s air force aims its UAV fleet northwards

The Royal Australian Air Force is advancing its unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capabilities across three key programmes as it works with the likes of Boeing and Northrop Grumman to reshape Australia’s defence strategy.
FTUAS competitor trials were “very successful”, says US Army official

Prototypes from Griffon Aerospace and Textron Systems recently passed through MOSA conformance trials and flight tests.