Wood could have new role in cheaper civil UAV sector

Wood could become a core material for unmanned air vehicle structures for low-cost, robust systems for civil and scientific users, according to a small UK-based UAV manufacturer.

Advances in understanding timber characteristics have made it an appropriate material for development of specialised UAVs, says Remote Airworks, which is focusing on hybrid wood/composite airframe designs for short take-off, joined-wing configurations to increase payload and extend endurance.

The company is also using design and manufacturing concepts from wooden-hulled ocean-going racing catamarans. "Wood allows primary structures that are lighter and stronger than all-composite equivalent designs in specialist roles," says Remote Airworks design manager Ingo Massey. He sees air vehicle costs as an obstacle to the development of a sustainable civil UAV market, but says wood structures could resolve that. Hybrid airframes could enable readily adaptable systems for "one-off" applications, with limited rates of production for unique configurations and rapid reconfiguration for new roles, he says.

Source: Flight International