Honeywell Sensors Selected for Cargo Delivery UAV

Pipistrel has selected Honeywell’s next-generation Attitude Heading Reference System (AHRS) and Air Data Module for its Nuuva V300 cargo delivery UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle). These sensors will provide the aircraft’s avionics and mechanical systems with critical navigation and motion-sensing data, and will work in tandem with Honeywell’s Compact Fly-By-Wire system onboard the aircraft.

Pipistrel’s Nuuva V300 is a long-range, heavy-lift autonomous UAV with vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) capability and battery power, meaning that it does not require a runway and has significantly lower operating costs than helicopters. It can carry a payload of up to 460 kilograms (around 1,000 pounds) for more than 300 kilometers (about 186 miles), making it an ideal solution for deliveries to areas traditionally accessible only by manned helicopters.

The AH-2000 uses Honeywell’s next-generation MEMS-based inertial sensors to deliver safety-critical aircraft attitude and velocity information to the fly-by-wire flight control system and navigation data to the fly-by-wire guidance system. This data provides the high level of safety normally seen on commercial aircraft but in a more compact size. Honeywell’s ADM utilizes a highly stable pressure-sensing technology to provide safety-critical avionics with measurements for accurate altitude and airspeed.

Tine Tomažič, chief technology officer at Pipistrel, commented: “Nuuva V300’s groundbreaking operational concept requires highly accurate, dependable and robust navigation sensors, and the AH-2000 and ADM are key enablers of this functionality. This technology allows us to deliver simple and intuitive mouse-click control to fly the vehicle, eliminating the need for operators to be trained with traditional piloting skills, which helps ensure rapid scale-up of operations for our customers.”

Matt Picchetti, vice president and general manager of Navigation & Sensors at Honeywell Aerospace, said: “Unmanned aircraft, especially those delivering packages, must be equipped with high-performing inertial systems to ensure fly-by-wire systems are provided the best possible information on location, speed and position. Vehicles like Nuuva V300 will change the way logistics companies fulfill package deliveries, and we’re proud to add our growing list of onboard technologies to enhance safety and make flying easier.”

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