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AeroVironment (AV) (NASDAQ:AVAV), a leader in unmanned aircraft
systems and efficient electric energy systems, today announced that it
successfully flew its Puma small unmanned aircraft for nearly five
hours while it was powered by an onboard fuel cell battery hybrid
energy storage system. This successful demonstration marked the
completion of the first task under AV's contract with the U.S. Air
Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) for the development of advanced
propulsion technologies for unmanned aircraft.
The $4.7 million, five-year IDIQ contract calls for several
development tasks designed to improve the efficiency and flight
duration of small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). Other tasks under
the contract include improvement of electric motor efficiency,
integration of solar cells into aircraft wings, and the exploration of
hydrogen storage technologies. For this flight demonstration, AV
worked with Protonex Technology Corporation (LSE:PTX) to develop the
fuel cell battery hybrid energy storage system, which included
hydrogen generation technology licensed from Millennium Cell Inc.
(NASDAQ:MCEL).
Puma's standard propulsion system comes equipped with rechargeable
batteries with a listed flight time of 2.5 hours. The nearly five-hour
duration of the Puma flight using fuel cell battery hybrid power
surpassed the longest previous Puma flight achieved by AV using any
technology. Looking forward, AV and Protonex expect Puma flight
durations to increase further through optimization and continued
development of the hybrid system.
"We are delighted with the performance of AV's fuel cell
hybrid-powered Puma," said First Lieutenant Don Erickson of the Air
Force Research Laboratory. "This system has the potential to provide
extended duration capabilities for a variety of missions supporting
operational units around the world."
"Our customers, including the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Air Force
and Special Operations Command, rely upon our small UAS for real-time
reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition," said Tim Conver,
president and chief executive officer of AV. "This demonstration of
long-duration flight from a hand-launched UAS using fuel cell battery
hybrid technology represents a good example of AV's expertise in
efficient electric energy technologies. This is an important
capability expansion that could extend the usefulness and concept of
operations of our entire portfolio of unmanned aircraft."
Each of AV's small UAS can be transported and set up with minimal
logistical footprint, and launched and operated by one person. Each is
powered by a replaceable and rechargeable battery pack. Using standard
propulsion systems, Wasp, Raven and Puma can fly for up to 30, 90 and
150 minutes, respectively, while wirelessly transmitting live video
and other information generated by electro-optical or infrared sensor
payloads, enabling their operators to view and capture images on a
hand-held ground control unit. Their high degree of portability and
flexibility in real world applications enable these systems to provide
tactical units with critical information when and where they need it,
facilitating faster, safer movement through urban and rural
environments. Consistently high levels of operational availability in
areas of operation insure that AV's small UAS are ready and able to
perform their missions reliably when required. To date, AV has
produced more than 6,000 small unmanned aircraft.
About Puma
With a wingspan of 8.5 feet and weight of 12.5 pounds, Puma is a
lightweight, hand-launched UAS that provides aerial observation at
line-of-sight ranges up to 10 kilometers. Operating from the same
ground control system used for Raven and Wasp, Puma incorporates
avionics that enable autonomous flight and precise GPS navigation.
Puma delivers advanced flexibility and endurance, with an
adaptable design that allows for custom payloads to be added in lieu
of the air vehicle's standard configuration of color and IR cameras.
Puma is easy to deploy, easy to use, and allows the operator to view
both stationary and moving targets easily, providing real-time
intelligence with persistent low-altitude reconnaissance.
About AeroVironment, Inc. (AV)
Building on a history of technological innovation, AV designs,
develops, produces, and supports an advanced portfolio of Unmanned
Aircraft Systems (UAS) and efficient electric energy systems. The
company's small UAS are used extensively by agencies of the U.S.
Department of Defense and increasingly by allied military forces to
deliver real-time reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition
to tactical operating units. AV's PosiCharge(R) fast charge systems
eliminate battery changing for electric industrial vehicles in
factories, airports, and distribution centers. For more information
about AV, please visit www.avinc.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
Certain statements in this press release may constitute
"forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are made on
the basis of current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that
involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to,
economic, competitive, governmental and technological factors outside
of our control, that may cause our business, strategy or actual
results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. Factors
that could cause actual results to differ materially from the
forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the
activities of competitors; failure of the markets in which we operate
to grow; failure to expand into new markets; failure to develop new
products or integrate new technology with current products; changes in
the regulatory environment; and general economic and business
conditions in the United States and elsewhere in the world. For a
further list and description of such risks and uncertainties, see the
reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We do not
intend, and undertake no obligation, to update any forward-looking
statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise.
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