Testing of a heavy fuel micro-sized UAV demonstrator engine based on RCV Engines Ltd's patented rotating cylinder valve (RCV) technology has exceeded customer performance expectations.  Intended for application in Honeywell's backpack-sized Micro Air Vehicle (MAV), the highly promising performance of the demonstrator was instrumental in Honeywell's decision announced today, to award RCV Engines Ltd the contract to further develop the engine design for the MAV and to deliver prototype units for flight testing.  

The MAV autonomous surveillance aircraft has been developed as part of the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) MAV Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration programme.  The vehicle is small enough for a foot soldier to carry on his/her back and is designed to provide soldiers with improved situational awareness without exposing them to enemy fire through forward- and downward-looking video cameras that relay information to a remote ground station video terminal.  

With its high power to weight ratio and heavy fuel capability, RCV technology is ideally suited to micro sized unmanned aerial vehicle applications such as Honeywell's MAV.  In February 2007 RCV Engines delivered a demonstrator engine to Honeywell for initial ground testing.  This twin-cylinder, 'boxer' configuration 60cc engine exceeded its targeted performance, delivering a peak power of over 4.6 horsepower and running at 8400 rev/min.   

Under the contract announced today RCV Engines will use finite element analysis to further develop the thermal performance of the engine, refine the design to extend its service life, implement a new fuelling system and supply 4 engines for flight trials. Crucially, RCV aims to reduce the weight of the engine by a further 10 per cent compared with the proof of concept demonstrator.  

"The RCV engine exceeded our expectations", said Honeywell unmanned aerial systems program manager, Vaughn Fulton. "It's compact, quiet and does not appear to have a smoke signature when running. RCV is on the verge of making it a reality: it has a clear and executable path that will mature this engine to fulfil the requirements of small UAVs such as the MAV".  

"Micro-sized unmanned aerial vehicles are an ideal application for our patented rotating cylinder valve technology", said RCV managing director, Eric Hill. "We are extremely pleased to have had the opportunity to prove the potential of RCV technology for Honeywell's MAV and look forward to further optimising the design and to delivering series prototypes for flight testing."