Development of V-TOL Aerospace’s Pegasus Mk.I platform, extending the capabilities of our sub-25Kg unmanned fixed-wing aircraft, has progressed to its next milestone. The platform has seen a successful flight of almost 2 hours and with a range of more than 75 km whilst being powered by up and coming technologies; including next-gen lithium sulfur batteries, developed by Li-S Energy, and next-gen perovskite solar panels, developed by Halocell.
The integration of these technologies, undertaken as part of an EATP grant, has resulted in an advanced unmanned aerial platform with the capabilities aimed at long-endurance flight. Several successful flight programs have been completed in Queensland, which have culminated in a long-endurance flight of almost 2 hours whilst using a single Li-S Energy battery pack and a first-generation array of Halocell solar panels.
The V-TOL Aerospace’s proprietary power management system utilized in the Pegasus platform has enabled in-flight switching between various powertrain configurations, including that of the Li-S Energy battery, whilst also facilitating opportunistic power recovery from the external sources, primarily the Halocell solar array. The development and integration of these powertrain technologies paves the way for future developments into the integration of multiple intelligently managed power feeds.
A key benefit of these new energy technologies, including the Pegasus platform itself, is the discrete and quiet operation of the platform during mission profiles. Compared with existing liquid-fuel solutions, the Pegasus platform is nearly inaudible during close-to-mid-range operation. This allows for non-invasive mission profiles that are fit for use in both commercial and public settings.
The next goals for Pegasus are expected to deliver an endurance of up to 8 hours, and then beyond 24 hours. This defines the critical pathway of reaching a long-endurance high-range platform that is purpose built for mapping and surveillance for the agricultural, utilities, and environmental industries.
More details are available in Li-S Energy’s ASX Announcement.