Engines for Mini-RPV XM-1A
Abstract
There were very few light-weight reciprocating engines in the five to ten horsepower range existing in Australia or overseas when a programme of research and exploratory development of the techniques required to operate unmanned airborne vehicles from a remote base station started in 1975. Those that did were generally single cylinder engines which are difficult to balance over the speed range necessary for mini remotely piloted vehicle (RPV) operation. A twin cylinder Kolbo D238 engine and a larger Herbrandson Dyad 160 engine were flown. When fitted with a locally developed capacitor discharge ignition system, both these engines performed reliably in flight trials of the mini-RPV XM-1A. However, the Kolbo engine had insufficient power for aircraft with a take-off mass of more than about 35 kg. This memorandum records the experience and test results gained at Weapons Systems Research Laboratory (WSRL) on small engines from its mini-RPV programme conducted during 1975 to 1981.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1988
- Accession Number
- ADA198336
Entities
People
- E. H. Barnard-brown