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Solar power

Many UAVs and USVs now come fitted with solar panels covering much of their surfaces. The interest in solar energy comes from more than it being a potentially limitless source of green power; for uncrewed systems it extends autonomy in a practical sense.

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5G networks

While 5G phones are now widely available, and network operators are rolling out commercial 5G networks in urban areas around the world, the technology is also being developed with uncrewed systems in mind...

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AI

Machine learning (ML) and AI are used in many different ways and in different parts of uncrewed systems for a range of functions to boost their performance. For example, AI is used extensively for applications based on image processing....

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Propellers

Uncrewed systems have evolved over the past few years, leading to commercial, high-end UAV manufacturers attracting investment and setting up partnerships with organisations in markets including logistics, energy and defence....

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Performance monitoring

Monitoring the performance of uncrewed systems is evolving. The increasing number of sensors in a platform, with more integrated electronics to provide data about system...

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Connectors

The number of connections needed in an uncrewed vehicle for power and comms means that connector designs often reflect the nature of the vehicle itself. Lighter connectors help to make it less heavy, for example, while more rugged ones help it to better...

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Lidar Sensors

Lidar sensors are a key element in the design of many uncrewed platforms. A near-infrared laser, invisible to surrounding people, can provide detection of obstacles at distances of up to 300 m for driverless cars and trucks, or at ranges of 10-50 m for industrial robots...