A new power pack comprised of two separate lithium-ion batteries will allow Israel Aerospace Industries' Panther unmanned tiltrotor to stay in the air with a payload for over 6h.
One battery is used for the vertical take-off and landing phases of flight, with the other employed during cruise conditions. "The distributed usage allows the optimal power that can be derived from such batteries," an industry source says.
The Panther uses an automatic flight control system that controls the transitions between the hovering take-off phase to forward flight, and then back before landing. This system also controls the transition from one battery to the other, the source says.
Powered by three quiet electrical motors, the unmanned air vehicle has a maximum take-off weight of 65kg (143lb).
Source: FlightGlobal.com
