Robotic Research proposes applying our expertise and technology from unmanned aerial and ground systems (UAV/UGV), precision navigation, and electric vehicles (EV) to make the Advanced Paramotor Expeditionary System (APES), a system which could revolutionize the military utility of PPGs for the Marines and other American military forces. Robotic Research has extensive experience optimizing size, weight, and power for restrictive requirements on our Pegasus family of hybrid UAV/UGVs (Figure 3, Left/Center). Of particular relevance to this project, we have developed test stands, equipment, and methodologies for selecting motors, propellers, and batteries to optimize thrust and flight/time efficiency for UAVs from 5 lbs to 55 lbs. Additionally, we have developed advanced monocoque carbon fiber body designs, rugged/lightweight track systems, custom UAV power electronics, flight controllers and computers that can accept a wide variety of connectivity and payloads in order to meet the difficult requirements and diverse capabilities required of the systems. Robotic Researchs greatest technical strength lies in coordinated localization and planning of people and vehicles, particularly in GPS-denied environments. We also have a successful history of developing new robotic platforms and retrofitting manually operated vehicles for autonomous operations. Although pilots can typically rely on GPS, the ability to operate without it is critical in potentially hostile environments where it can easily be jammed. Robotic Research has developed a Family of Systems (FoS) under the MACS-B program, a group of asymmetric assets which work together to explore, map, and observe.
Benefit: A benefit of Robotic Research's approach is that the propulsion system (motor) is separate from the energy generation (engine) and energy storage (battery) systems, so a more modular system is possible. Both energy generation and storage technologies are rapidly advancing, so if better batteries or an improved method of generating electricity is developed (such as a more efficient engine, fuel cell, or thermophotovoltaic generator, it would be able to be integrated without a complete system redesign. Other side benefits include having a large enough electrical system to power avionics or soldier-worn electronics, or to act as a field battery charger, either in flight or on the ground. A benefit of the contra-rotating propellers that we propose is the ability to turn the PPG using differential torque. In a quadrotor UAV, yaw control is achieved by applying differential torques to the CW or CCW rotating props. Similarly, on a PPG, this differential torque would allow for controllable torque steering. This would enable a pilot to precisely turn the PPG without using brake inputs (and thus, gain efficiency). More critically, however, this control would likely be all the turning force required for an autopilot feature to keep a constant heading or ground track or do gradual heading adjustments, greatly simplifying the actuation needed for such a system.
Keywords: Electric hybrid, Electric hybrid, hybrid, Navigation, autopilot, powered, paraglider
