UAVOS continues to implement its UAS conversion program

Designed to compete in an advanced long-distance and inter-city transportation segment of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) delivery market, long-range heavy-lift UVH-500 UAS is based on the piloted CH7 helicopter platform. The trial involves testing of the air basic aircraft systems, emergency operating modes including autorotation landing, and flights with a cargo container weighing up to 130 kg.  

The UVH-500 has been created as a part of UAVOS’s pilot into unmanned aircraft conversion program and addresses the growing market of UAV cargo delivery. Measuring 23 ft long, 5 ft wide and 7,7 ft tall, and with a rotor diameter of 20,6 ft, it is capable of carrying up to 160 kg with a range of up to 522 miles.

UAVOS’s conversion solutions incorporate installing an increased fuel tank and setting repositioned and larger heat exchangers that make wider operational temperature ranges. UAVOS’s parachute system has been installed as well. Сockpit, push/pull rods and flight instruments have been removed. The autonomous system mounted on the UVH-500 belongs to a family of autopilot solutions developed by UAVOS.

Additional features and advantages

Enhancing the unmanned helicopter with UAVOS’s autopilot gives additional features and advantages to the existing options: automatic take-off and landing, remote ground controls network capability, autorotation landing capability and high-efficiency flight control, based on TECS (Total Energy Control System). The aircraft is also equipped with a Beyond Line-of-Sight (BLOS) data link system for over-the-horizon operations.

“UAVOS has vast experience with converting manned aircraft into unmanned platforms of both helicopter and fixed-wing types. We see conversion program opportunities as an answer to a global need in the UAV delivery market for the high lift capacity platforms which meet requirements of reducing emissions, low prices of shipping, creating a safer system for delivery, and delivering rapidly in out-of-the-way locations,” said Aliaksei Stratsilatau, CEO and Lead Developer of UAVOS.

The advantage of the UVH-500 UAS is the fact that it can be operated in areas without airfields, under severe weather conditions and during night-time, in conditions with a higher risk for the pilot.

Operating in remote areas

The piloted helicopter is modified to cargo configuration to operate in remote areas. The UVH-500 unmanned helicopter is able to send freight to destinations including islands, mountain areas, remote construction sites and other similar locations. Using the most progressive technologies developed by UAVOS, the UVH-500 is an ideal platform for fast and reliable transportation of humanitarian goods to rural areas.

“We see lots of benefits of traditional aircraft converted into UAV. The converted aircraft are a cost-effective alternative to developing new UAV. Among other things, the CH7 helicopter we have used for conversion is aviation certified. The key to success in converted UVH-500 is also to be found in availability of the spare parts and basic technician training programs,” explained Stratsilatau. 

In April, UAVOS successfully tested its new UVH-170 unmanned helicopter designed for immediate air response.