
This year’s Farnborough International Airshow air display features also a UAS (Unmanned Aerial System) demo: a Tekever AR4 Light Ray drone.
The mini-UAS is hand-launched by a team, then silently circles over the airport and then finally lands at the end of the short demo flight.
However, the air display on Jul. 9 had an unexpected end: although it gently landed on the grass next to the main runway as the Malaysian Airlines Airbus 380 prepared for take off, the UAS broke into three parts.
Meant to be carried in backpack by ground troops needing tactical assistance, the drone can be assembled and disassabled quickly. This might be the cause for the seemingly structural collapse.
Noteworthy, the Light Ray was brought to the show to give people the opportunity to see a drone at work: although they are flying for several years most spectators have never seen one actually flying.
For sure just a few of them noticed the “crash landing”.
Hi David,
Just to clarify: the AR4 is designed to disassemble at landing, having several mechanical fuses in the tail, wings and payload to ensure the proper energy dissipation. The parts are left unharmed and can then be easily reassembled.
In sum, the “crash” is by design :)
Cheers,
Ricardo Mendes
TEKEVER
Thanks Ricardo.
Indeed, I wrote that it could be considered a “collapse” by design given that the drone can be easily reassembled.
Yes, like the Raven it’s designed to absorb the impact by breaking into three pieces. It can be assembled in a few seconds after landing. The Raven was displayed a few years ago on a RNLAF open dag. http://youtu.be/AbZ5MJcLtgY