Reventec Ltd has announced that its LS200 capacitive fuel level sensor has been integrated into the Martin UAV V-BAT tactical Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) for real-time fuel monitoring.
Reventec’s LS200 fuel level sensor, which features a lightweight aluminium construction and 2-hole mounting flange, measures the full depth of the fuel tank to an accuracy of ±0.5% and provides critical fuel level data to operators on the ground. The sensor has an operational temperature range of -40°C to +150°C and is capable of both analog and Controller Area Network (CAN) communication protocols.
Reventec’s fuel level measurement technology is proven in UAS applications, with a number of fixed wing, Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL) and hybrid-VTOL platforms adopting the technology over recent years. The technology is designed for long-endurance platforms, where reliable fuel level data allows operators to fly for longer, safely.
“It’s great to see the increasing adoption of our products into UAS applications,” said Neville Meech, Managing Director at Reventec. “We’ve built lightweight, high-accuracy fuel level sensors for top-level motorsport for many years, and the crossover of the technology into UAS applications isn’t surprising given the similar requirements for high data accuracy and reliability, with minimal impact of the sensor mass on the payload-carrying capacity of the UAS.”
The V-BAT UAS, which has been selected by the U.S. Army as a potential replacement for the Shadow tactical UAS under the FTUAS program, is powered by a 183cc 2-stroke EFI engine and fueled with an 80:1 gasoline/oil mix, with a maximum range of 350 miles.