Jane Edwards
Ballard Power Systems’ Protonex subsidiary has handed prototypes of fuel cell propulsion modules to Boeing’s Insitu subsidiary for integration with an unmanned aerial vehicle.
Protonex’s fuel cell-based proton exchange membrane modules will work to provide propulsion functions for the Insitu-built ScanEagle UAV, Ballard Power Systems said Monday.
Insitu plans to begin flight demonstrations of ScanEagle with the Protonex fuel cell propulsion components in the second half of 2016.
The ScanEagle UAV has a maximum payload capacity of 48.5 pounds and is designed to fly at a maximum altitude of 19,500 feet for at least 24 hours.
The drone has recorded more than 800,000 in flight hours during civilian and military operations and is built to work with Insitu’s SkyHook recovery tool and Mark4 Launcher runway platform.
Protonex’s fuel cell propulsion modules work to reduce noise and heat signatures and facilitate the use of JP8 fuel in ground refueling platforms.
