Reventec has supplied its LS200 capacitive fuel level sensor to Alpha Unmanned Systems to provide fuel volume sensing capabilities for the Alpha 900 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).
The Alpha 900 unmanned helicopter is a fuel-powered maritime security and surveillance aircraft with quick deployment and Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL) capabilities ideal for launching from and landing on moving vessels.
Reventec’s LS200 sensor allows for longer, better optimized flight time through instantaneous fuel monitoring. With the LS200 sensor, the Alpha 900 is capable of up to 4 hours of continuous flight, allowing surveillance teams to extract more intelligence data during the aircraft’s naval reconnaissance, maritime security and surveillance, and search and rescue missions.
The sensor’s low-Size, Weight and Power (SWaP) provides high precision without impacting the overall weight and the Alpha 900’s 4kg payload capacity. Delivering analog outputs in a custom range of 0.25V at empty to 3.3V when full, the fuel level sensor integrates directly into the UAV’s wiring architecture with the supplied flying lead.
With an accuracy of +/-0.5% of reading, the instrument operates efficiently across a broad temperature range of -40°C to +125°C within a 2bar differential tank pressure. Featuring capacitive liquid level technology that is compliant to Mil-Std EMC tests, the sensor is equipped to perform within defense applications.
“We are delighted to be supplying our fuel level sensors to Alpha Unmanned Systems,” said Neville Meech, Managing Director at Reventec. “We have seen an increased demand for our liquid level sensors as UAV manufacturers are taking advantage of our low-SWaP sensor solutions to monitor real-time fuel level; allowing UAVs to fly further for longer.”
“Reventec sensors provide reliable fuel status within the demanding conditions of a UAV,” Álvaro Escarpenter, ALPHA’s CTO, added. “Thanks to their capacitive sensors we can maximize our flight time regardless of the configuration of the aircraft, flight conditions or type of mission.”
Reventec’s capacitive liquid level sensors are rigorously tested, highly vibration-tolerant and offer unparalleled accurate measurement. Additional temperature options allow for thermal readings from the tip of the probe, providing accurate measurement of fuel temperature from the smallest volume and not overall ambient temperature of the tank. All Reventec sensors are calibrated in the customers fuel of choice.
