Traditionally, UAVs have required a larger engine to cope with power loss at higher altitude. Plextek’s solution uses a supercharger, traditionally found on manned aircraft, to maintain engine power at higher altitude. As part of the project, Plextek liaised with Giles Cardozo, the engineer who invented and piloted one of two Para-motor aircraft that flew over Mt. Everest, smashing the existing world altitude record by more than 10,000 ft. They looked at existing UAV engines and the problem of losing power at higher altitude, noting how larger aircraft use forced induction to compensate. The resulting Plextek solution produces the same performance at 20,000 ft as it does at sea level.
Plextek’s ‘off the shelf’ solution weighs just 13kg, a considerable improvement over current normally aspirated engines of equivalent high altitude performance. The engine is also designed to fit in a streamlined fuselage of a 10-inches (254mm) diameter tube, which is ideal for MALE UAVs. The UAV engine was designed by Plextek’s Defence Group, which is experienced in aeronautical engineering and the design of defence and aerospace electronics. Plextek’s team of consultants combine extensive expertise in software and hardware design, research and development of unmanned air systems, air vehicle propulsion, system integration, simulation and modeling and prototype trials and demonstrations.