22 September 2020: Composites are one of the most essential elements of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle about 50 per cent of UAVs comprise of carbon fibre. Of lately their use has grown tremendously, not only for military applications such as surveillance and reconnaissance but also for recreational and commercial use. Hexcel’s HexTow carbon fibres are lightweight and provide the required stiffness-to-weight ratio needed for UAVs. They make sure that the aircraft reaches the desired heights and distances with minimal engine power.
In addition, Hexcel’s advanced materials can contribute to the electromagnetic properties of UAV systems. Since these systems are unmanned, they require efficient and reliable communication with ground stations or other UAVs through wireless or satellite communications. Hexcel materials can be tuned to absorb certain electromagnetic frequencies and pass other frequencies. They are used for the vehicle’s structure and the radomes, which protect the antennas. The radome materials and structure can be engineered to allow for efficient communication while blocking out signals that are coming from other sources.
Hexcel’s lightweight, reliable, and affordable materials will help to enable this industry to move forward. Carbon fiber composite materials, honeycomb core structures, additive manufacturing, and dielectric tuned materials are key parts of this industry today. They will continue to enhance the functionality and efficiency of these vehicles in the future.
