Fuel Cell long endurance platform for EnergyOR unveiled by Robota

On first test flight, UAV flies for 10 hours powered by a hydrogen fuel cell, setting new benchmarks for small renewable energy unmanned aircraft.

Aug 12, 2011 – Drummondville, Quebec.  Robota LLC demonstrated a 10hour and 4 minute flight of its Unmanned Aerial Vehicle platform namedRobosoar.  The utlra-efficient UAV is designed to be man-portable, operated by a single person and is capable of autonomous takeoff and landing.  The flight marked a very successful initial integration test flight combining  the clean power source of hydrogen and an ultra efficient UAV, unleashing new possibilities for compact UAVs.

This remarkable achievement comes only 4 months after Robota began designing the Robosoar’s custom airframe and adaptations to Robota’s proprietary Goose autopilot.  The plane flew at 17 lbs (7.7kg) and can carry over 4 pounds of payload.  It covered 380 miles (611 km) on its ten hour endeavor. “We are nowhere near the limits of this technology,” says Antonio Liska, President of Robota LLC.  “Soon, 10 hour endurance will be common place in portable UAVs, and they’ll be
carrying out tasks that we cant yet imagine.”

Robosoar was powered by EnergyOr’s EPOD EO-210 hydrogen powered fuel cell system. Robota doubled the EPOD’s previous flight time with the Robosoar airframe. Hydrogen fuel cells provide far more energy per volume/weight than batteries, are very easy to maintain, and operate quietly.  Safe hydrogen tanks make it possible for anyone to easily handle the fuel cell system. Furthermore, the monetary cost of hydrogen for the flight was only a few dollars and the only exhaust
emissions were a few cups worth of water.

Robota LLC

Founded in 2005, Robota LLC is a small, privately owned company based in Sealy, TX with expertise in every aspect of unmanned aircraft design and operation. Robota prides itself on quick turnarounds of very dependable and efficient unmanned systems, which is possible due to its proprietary autopilot technology.  Contact Robota via the web
at www.robota.us.

EnergyOR

EnergyOR is based in Montreal, Quebec and is a manufacturer of PEM fuel cells.  EnergyOR is the proud owner of a Robosoar airframe, which they renamed FAUCON H2.