112 climate,” said Andrew Geltman from Wave Engine. “We’ve also tweaked the software to enable better performance out of the ECU, which also contributes to how fast and smooth the start-up procedures work now.” Hargrave Technologies unveiled several new ESCs within its microDRIVE and megaDRIVE product lines, to cater for efficient electric motor control at a variety of power outputs and in several different applications. “To start with, our new microDRIVE MP sits in about the middle of the overall product range, being a 15-60 V controller, with 120 A phase current – you can compare that with our microDRIVE LP that does about 60 A continuously when working amid 8 m/s air flow,” said Dominic McAuley from Hargrave. The company also showed us its new microDRIVE HP that outputs 200 A of phase current, as well as a new megaDRIVE HP that provides 200 A continuous phase current over a 120 V output bus for 28S-level battery packs. “Additionally, the first firmware update after release will enable a dual redundant CAN bus, as well as Dshot and PWM, in the megaDRIVE HP – as we’ve done in all our earlier products,” said McAuley. “We’re also releasing the megaDRIVE HPf, which is a water-cooled version, its 2 L/min flow rate enabling an extra 100 A for 300 A continuous phase current output at 120 V in total.” Hargrave sees particular potential for the megaDRIVE HPf in USVs, given the easy access to water and the low incidence of water cooling in UAV avionics. Future firmware plans for Hargrave’s ESCs include enabling the ability to run on a DroneCAN input, but default to Dshot or PWM in the event of the DroneCAN line failing, as well as other functions such as controlling ESCs via PWM, while still outputting DroneCAN telemetry for uses such as performance monitoring and maintenance logging. On top of its many ESC developments, the company also unexpectedly unveiled the microFLUX 4LP, a DC/DC power distribution unit, developed because of the lack of SWaP-optimised, easily configurable units (in Hargrave’s view) for stepping voltages. To that end, Hargrave’s power distribution unit is configurable using DroneCAN for converting a 60 V input to 3.3-5.3 V or 12-24 V outputs (or similar), to power servos, flight computers, IMUs and various other avionics with up to 5 or 10 A, as well as stepping up to 120 V for newer electric motor drive systems. Embention showcased a range of its latest and best-selling avionics solutions, with the newest among them being a radar altimeter, designed to DO-178 and DO-254 certification standards to achieve the same mission-critical reliability as its Veronte autopilot series. “We’ve engineered this radar altimeter to be as small as possible without risking falling short of the certification standards for consistent performance and safety; it offers a reliable detection range and communicates with the autopilot via CAN or serial interface,” said Javier Espuch of Embention. The company also exhibited its visual navigation system. This system integrates a downward-facing camera to monitor the ground to georeference the aircraft’s position and tracking changes therein in the event of GNSS August/September 2025 | Uncrewed Systems Technology Wave Engine has updated its J-1 pulse jet engine in a few key respects Hargrave Technologies’ new megaDRIVE HPf might be especially applicable to USVs, given the easy access to water for cooling the high-power ESC
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