Power System fuels unmanned aerial vehicles.
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Press Release Summary:
ProCore(TM) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) propulsion system combines fuel cell technology with chemical hydride fueling solution for hydrogen generation based on Millennium Cell's Hydrogen on Demand® technology. Enabling extended flight times and ability to carry greater payload, system suits UAVs designed for surveillance, chemical-biological monitoring, and border patrol.
Original Press Release:
Protonex to Introduce ProCore(TM) UAV Fuel Cell Power System at World's Largest Unmanned Systems Symposium
DATELINE: SOUTHBOROUGH, MA; Protonex Technology Corporation, a leading provider of advanced fuel cell power systems for sub-kilowatt portable, remote and mobile applications, will unveil its ProCoreTM unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) propulsion system at the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) Unmanned Systems North America, August 29-31 in Orlando, Florida. Protonex will also present recent advancements under its UAV power system programs, funded by the Air Force Research Laboratory, and test flights of the power system conducted by the Naval Research Laboratory.
While batteries are an ideal power source for one to three hour flight durations, a rapidly growing segment of small military UAVs designed for surveillance, chemical-biological monitoring, border patrol and other specialty missions are demanding extended flight times that cannot be achieved with battery power. Advanced fuel cells, offering quiet, reliable and energy-dense power, will enable extended flight times and the ability to carry greater payload.
To date, the Naval Research Laboratory has completed two test flights using a prototype power system comprised of Protonex' fuel cell technology and a compressed hydrogen fuel source. While fuel cells coupled with compressed hydrogen improve flight durations compared to those of battery powered UAVs, compressed hydrogen is not the most effective means of storing hydrogen on a per-weight basis. The ProCoreTM UAV system combines Protonex' high-performance fuel cell technology with an advanced chemical hydride fueling solution for hydrogen generation based on Millennium Cell's (NASDAQ: MCEL) Hydrogen on Demand® technology. The result is a propulsion system that will provide small UAVs with up to four times the energy density of advanced batteries, significantly extending the capabilities of these systems.
"The progress we have made to date on our UAV power platform already provides the opportunity to double or triple the flight durations of a typical small UAV," said Scott Pearson, CEO, Protonex. "We are now focusing on the next steps in productization of the system, which include working with UAV manufacturers to integrate the power system into an appropriate UAV platform designed specifically for extended flight duration with greater payload."
Enquiries
Protonex Tel: +1 508 490 9960
Scott Pearson, Chief Executive Officer
Jennifer Humiston, Marketing Manager
About Protonex Technology Corporation
www.protonex.com
Protonex Technology Corporation develops and manufactures compact, lightweight and high- performance fuel cell systems for portable power applications in the ten to 500-watt range. The Company's fuel cell systems are designed to meet the needs of military and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) customers for off-grid applications underserved by existing technologies by providing customisable, stand-alone portable power solutions and systems that may be hybridized with existing power technologies. The Company is based in Southborough, Massachusetts.
