A capacitive fuel level sensor from Reventec is being used to provide realtime level data from a Martin UAV V-BAT tactical UAS (writes Nick Flaherty).

Reventec’s LS200 has a solid-state capacitive sensor with no moving parts and measures the full depth of the fuel tank to an accuracy of ±0.5% to provide critical fuel level data to operators on the ground via both analogue and CAN comms protocols. It is built from aluminium with a simple, two-hole mounting flange and has an operational temperature range of -40 C to +150 C.

The V-BAT is powered by a 183 cc two-stroke EFI engine and is fuelled with an 80:1 gasoline-oil mix; it has a maximum range of 350 miles. It has been selected by the US Army as a potential replacement for the Shadow tactical UAS.

“We’ve built lightweight, highaccuracy fuel level sensors for toplevel motorsport for many years, and the crossover of the technology into UAS applications isn’t surprising given the similar requirements for high data accuracy and reliability, with minimal impact of the sensor mass on the payload-carrying capacity of the UAS,” said Neville Meech, managing director at Reventec.