Penguin BE, the unmanned research aircraft, is used by the flight robotics group to test-flight new robotic technologies. It was acquired in 2013 and has since completed about 20 flight campaigns.
Technical Specifications
Span:
3,3m
Weight:
approx. 20kg
Degrees of freedom:
6
Power supply
LiPo battery
Speed:
approx. 70km/h
Drive:
brushless electric motor
Special features:
pilot-static tube
GPS
IMU
monocular camera
System description
Its autonomous landing on a moving ground vehicle at the end of 2015 was particularly noteworthy. This technology allows the operation of aircraft without landing gear and thus a significantly reduced take-off weight. This is particularly advantageous in so-called HALE (High Altitude Long Endurance) UAVs, since the landing gear makes up a particularly high proportion by weight.
