Adaptive Materials Inc. and the University of Michigan Fuel Cell Flight Record

[nschoeps]

Adaptive Materials Inc. and the University of Michigan Solarbubbles UAV group flew their aircraft "Endurance" for 10 hours 15 minutes and 4 seconds on October 30th. Endurance weighed in at 11.7 pounds with a wingspan just under 8ft. Both AMI and the Solarbubbles group are freuqent readers of these forums, and RC enthusiasts. Keep up the great work.

Nick Schoeps
Fuel Cell Engineer
Adaptive Materials Inc.

www.adaptivematerials.com

http://solarbubbles.engin.umich.edu/~solarbubbles/

[dmgoedde]

I watched the video, clicked on "faq" link also, pardon me if I missed it somewhere as I am short on time.. question:

Fuel cell chemistry = ? I'm yearning for the day when practical methanol fuel cells arrive for UAVs... I saw 2 different aircraft in the video, one with long cylindrical tube around the fuselage (maybe compressed hydrogen tank inside?) and the other aircraft had open areas and didn't look like any compressed hydrogen tanks. This is why I'm wondering which plane it was, and chemistry of the fuel cell.

Details PLEASE!!! :eek:

Thanks for posting!

[nschoeps]

Please see the provided press release at www.adaptivematerials.com. We produce propane-fueled solid oxide fuel cell systems, no need for compressed hydrogen. The video will show several iterations of aircraft, the open-frame design is Endurance.

Thanks for your interest,
Nick

[rpage53]

Never mind -- simultaneous posting

[dmgoedde]

Please see the provided press release at www.adaptivematerials.com. We produce propane-fueled solid oxide fuel cell systems, no need for compressed hydrogen. The video will show several iterations of aircraft, the open-frame design is Endurance.

Thanks for your interest,
NickAwesome! Thanks! That is very exciting. Propane can be liquified under pressure at room temperature, is sommon, and is a dense energy source compared to hydrogen.

Can your system work with butane or pentane? I'll look at the details later... I assume your system reforms the hydrocarbon to extract hydrogen in-situ.

[dmgoedde]

Answered my own question! Yes, it can use Butane as well. VERY cool.

[patrickegan]

Do they have a COA?

[poynting]

Like most of the people doing interesting things around here, probably not. Doesn't seem to stop anyone else.

[dmgoedde]

Do they have a COA?Why would they need COA? It was R/C flight.

[patrickegan]

RC, not really. Looking over the information “Adaptive Materials funded the project” it would appear that this operation doesn’t fit into the definition of “sport and recreation!”

[jtprouty]

DARPA is currently soliciting for teams to test fuel cell technology, trying to fly for 24 hours or more. I don't doubt that they are part, or plan to be part, of that competition. Personally, I don't care, nor is it any of my business, if they have a COA other than I'm interested in the process of gaining one.


Great work guys!

[patrickegan]

DARPA has facilities where they can legally fly. You can’t get a COA without a public sponsor, if you have a sponsor there are people who can help you write it up.

[rpage53]

The flight was by a University which has special research provisions not available to average citizens.

Rick.

[patrickegan]

There is no special research provision, to fly without a COA or experimental certificate (or SFOC in Canada), is a violation of FAA policy.

[poynting]

Whether or not they have a COA, it doesn't take away from the great work they've done, a neat project for sure, I hope to see them make their goal.


As for the other, if you're flying for any reason or with any backing other than your own personal enjoyment, you're violating FAA rules. Of course this includes Universities, there are no special provisions (unfortunately), but right now everyone flies under the same rules - either you're an R/C pilot flying for fun and with no commercial interests in mind, you have a COA/exp cert, or you're not following the rules. It's really pretty simple, there's no in-between. An R/C pilot paid by a model company to fly is no longer an R/C pilot, he's a commercial pilot. A AP flier that's taking pictures to sell down the street is no longer an R/C pilot, but a professional photographer. University, DARPA, or otherwise sponsored projects don't have any special stipulations. People & companies flying for DARPA programs fly in restricted airspace or work through the process of getting a COA before flying, anything else and they're breaking the rules. COA's aren't impossible to get, they just take time and a (Gov't) sponsor.

[CenTexFlyer]

Well stated (if not painfully so) poynting!

[patrickegan]

No one is suggesting that we take away from this or any other achievement. What I am suggesting is that we take a more proactive approach with ‘our’ future. Soon we could find ourselves in an even more business adverse regulatory environment then the one that exists today. Is he saying we are making it worse for ourselves? Making it worse?! How could it be worse?! No! What I am saying is you have a bunch of folks pouring money and time into what in most cases may very well be a financial train wreck. Those of you (like Gene), who’ve been in before 2/13/07 (or earlier), have no choice but to soldier on. The rest of you are running headlong into becoming a raisin on the vine.

There is no cohesion from within the community…

So, are we all working in secret to make the perfect widget? Now that you’ve built your mousetrap, who are you going to market it and who are you going to market it to? Does your business plan take into effect the regulatory future? It has been my experience that no one takes these few but important questions into consideration. When I read the boards here and elsewhere, I see people talk about their capabilities, composites, designs and missions. If this is you, you could very well be throwing away your time and money. It’s speaks volumes as it says in neon that most of the folks in this game, are not business people! Is that a bad thing? No, but let’s not be so arrogant as to not realize what we are up against. I’ve been warming chairs in this process (worldwide), for several years and if I’ve learned one thing, it’s not going away and we stand to lose a lot.