HiDRON completes flights tests at 82,000ft
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.
More from Uncrewed Vehicles
-
![UK Royal Navy buys autonomous uncrewed submarine]()
UK Royal Navy buys autonomous uncrewed submarine
The UK Royal Navy envisages large uncrewed submarines will one day operate alongside their crewed counterparts.
-
![Seebyte extends US Navy autonomous systems support]()
Seebyte extends US Navy autonomous systems support
Under the award, Seebye will support the USN’s MK18 UUV family of systems programme.
-
![Autonomous mine countermeasure system makes for PESCO debut at REPMUS]()
Autonomous mine countermeasure system makes for PESCO debut at REPMUS
PESCO said the project would take lessons learned from trials during REPMUS and look to build closer cooperation with industry for further testing of new technologies.
-
![Northrop Grumman counter-UAS architecture impresses in live-fire trials]()
Northrop Grumman counter-UAS architecture impresses in live-fire trials
The US Army live-fire test evaluated the performance of the C-UAS system of systems before operational use.
-
![US aiming for 100-strong fleet of uncrewed vessels in Middle East]()
US aiming for 100-strong fleet of uncrewed vessels in Middle East
With the Arabian Gulf representing a vast maritime area for crewed vessels to patrol, USVs and UUVs could become the US Navy's eyes and ears in the region.
-
![How cargo containers for UAVs can improve resupply capabilities]()
How cargo containers for UAVs can improve resupply capabilities
Describing its technology as akin to shipping containers for UAVs, TB2 Aerospace believes its cargo system for drones could yield benefits for tactical resupply.
