PowerPoint Presentation

AIRMULE TRANSPORTER UAVFOR ISRAEL DEFENSE FORCES

IntroductionThe AirMule is an unmanned air vehicle (UAV) designed and developed by Israel's Urban Aeronautics to meet the requirements of the Israeli Defence Forces.The AirMule successfully completed its first phase of flight testing in January 2010. Its maiden flight, which was scheduled for April 2009, has been postponed.In 2011, Urban Aeronautics resumed flight tests of the AirMule prototype equipped with enhanced sensors suite and a new wheeled landing gear. In 2012, the UAV was further upgraded with Controp's D-STAMP stabilised, electro-optic payload and a double redundant hydraulic system.Test flights of the upgraded air vehicle began in late 2012 and a number of fully automatic test flights were concluded by December 2013.Construction on the second prototype started in December 2011 and its test flight is expected in 2014.

DesignThe AirMule was developed during the war in Lebanon in 2006 as a way of transferring troops and medical equipment. The UAV hasvertical take-off and landing (VTOL)capability and can be operated in remote areas, where helicopters and traditional rotorcraft cannot function properly.The AirMule is intended for cargo transport, medical evacuation and troop supply missions. The payload bays, which are being incorporated in the vehicle, will double the rescue cabin space for wounded soldiers.

AvionicsThe UAV's fly-by-wire can be controlled using a four-channel flight control system that depends on inertial measurements increased by a global positioning system equipped in the aircraft.Two laser altimeters are incorporated in the vehicle to determine the height of the UAV above the ground. The aircraft is also equipped with a vane control system to produce either side force or rolling moment.A total of 460 channels fitted in the aircraft send real-time data to the ground station operators, which allow them to track the operations of the engine and subsystems. The subsystems include three gear boxes, two main lift rotors and three uplink and downlink communication channels.In February 2014, Urban Aeronautics selected Green Hills Software's INTEGRITY real-time operating system (RTOS) and MULTI integrated development environment (IDE) for the flight management of the UAV.

Navigation, Sensors & RadarsThe AirMule can be controlled either manually from a ground control station (GCS) or through an autonomous mode using an automatic fly-by-wire system. The UAV is equipped with infrared sensors and two laser sensors for monitoring flight altitude.The AirMule's radars include a synthetic aperture radar and a ground-moving target indicator.

SpecificationsThe UAV is powered by a single Arriel 1D1 turboshaft engine, which can produce 559kW of electric power.The AirMule can fly at a maximum speed of 185km/h. Its maximum altitude is 3,657m. Its maximum endurance is between two and four hours. The UAV weighs around 635kg and its maximum take-off weight is 1,088kg.

Referenceshttp://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/airmule-uav/

THANK YOU