UAVOS Continues Testing UVH-170 Unmanned Delivery Helicopter

UAVOS is continuing to test its UVH-170 unmanned helicopter, including testing related to general flight stability and performance by large box delivering, touchless cargo drop functionality as well as weight and balance monitoring among other data points integral for safe delivery operations. 

These functionalities are intended to potentially unlock further new viable delivery use cases, reduce operational costs and provide a robust solution to meet even more customer demands.

The helicopter conducted a flight with a 33 lb (15 kg) external large box with dimensions of 500mm width, 500mm depth, and 430mm high, demonstrating its ability to enable weight single-point cargo hook sling load of 33 pounds (15 kilograms) as well external load auto-jettison. The goods were delivered with neither the need to land nor the need for a ground control station on the receiving side. The flight took 2 hours and covered a standoff distance of 62 miles (100 km). 

“With new needs come new solutions,” said CEO at UAVOS Aliaksei Stratsilatau. “The performance of this flight test displays the UVH-170’s operational effectiveness as well as an efficient way to transport bulky medical goods with low weight and ensures it will be able to support drone-based delivery applications to remote/hard-to-reach regions. This means that the UVH-170 helicopter can be used particularly in areas where aircraft cannot land. In addition to carrying cargo as an external load, the drone retains its multi-mission capability, allowing it to perform search and inspections missions.”

The UVH-170 unmanned helicopter is powered by a gasoline engine. With a maximum take off weight of 99 lb (45 kg), and a payload of up to 33 lb (15 kg), UVH-170 flies at an altitude of 16400 ft (5000 m) at maximum speed of 74 mi/h (120 km/h). The unmanned platform is able to fly through winds of up to 14 meters per second (27 kts) while taking off or landing. UAVOS’ drone is equipped with satellite communication data link, which supports Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) flights. 

The UVH-170 unmanned helicopter capabilities address both logistics (medical, pharmaceutical, remote communities, humanitarian aid, etc.) and economic (mining, oil & gas, power lines, forest inspections, etc.) use-cases being requested by the customers.

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