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Corvus Energy and BAE Systems chosen for Tall Ship hybrid propulsion system Wirth Research develops worlds first long-endurance hydrogen-powered terrain mapping drones

Wirth Research has been contracted to develop and deliver a unique and bespoke prototype fleet of advanced terrain mapping drones for DERYL Research K.K. – a subsidiary of DERYL Group K.K., based in Japan. The all-new Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) will be capable of deploying a sophisticated terrain-mapping suite of sensors and on-board data processing capabilities on longendurance flights over large areas of terrain. To allow the highest possible endurance, and allow the UAS to have zero in-flight emissions, the drone will be powered by an advanced hybrid power system, featuring a hydrogen fuel cell as its primary energy source.

Wirth Research founder and CEO, Nick Wirth, said: “I am delighted to be leading the team on this project. The field of UAS design and development is something we have been working on for some time, and delivering a low-cost, hybrid hydrogen powered terrain mapping drone in a short timescale is exactly the type of challenging project that Wirth Research is able to deliver. Low-cost, high-resolution terrain mapping is something that the world needs right now for many reasons – making this a truly worthy project for us.”

He added: “We have developed and validated some unique aerodynamic technology and flown some amazing UAS systems already. We look forward to the challenge of delivering this fleet in a few months, and to embarking on the next project in this fascinating field.” Visit: www.wirthresearch.com

Wärtsilä researches autonomous shipping

The San Francisco Bay Area nonprofit, Educational Tall Ship Programme has ordered a 100kWh energy storage system (ESS) from Corvus Energy as a part of a hybrid electric propulsion system on board its new, 132-foot Brigantine tall ship, the Matthew Turner, which is currently under construction in Sausalito.

The Corvus Energy ESS will be combined with an electric propulsion system designed and installed by BAE Systems. When not under sail, the ship will be propelled by electric motors directly connected to the propeller shafts and drawing energy from the Corvus ESS, instead of diesel engines. When the ship is under sail, the energy of the passing water will cause the propellers to rotate, which, in turn, will cause the electric motors to become generators that re-charge the Corvus ESS. The ship will also be charged from the grid and solar panels when at the dock.

“Corvus and BAE Systems have been collaborating together on developing power and propulsion systems that are more fuel efficient, providing ship owners with a lower cost of ownership, and reducing the impact on the environment,” says Allan Grant, vice-president of Business Development at Corvus Energy. Visit: www.corvusenergy.com Wärtsilä’s strong commitment to developing the technologies, the system reliability, and the essential designs to enable the viability of autonomous shipping is again emphasised through its participation in an important research programme. Together with other leading marine sector and information & communication technology (ICT) companies, Wärtsilä is supporting a project aimed at creating the world’s first autonomous marine transport system.

The initial focus will be on developing a fully autonomous system for the Baltic Sea by the year 2025. The programme is being largely financed by Tekes, the Finnish Funding Agency for innovation and the ecosystem platform is being handled by DIMECC, a leading breakthrough oriented cocreation ecosystem provider. The main corporate investors in the programme, apart from Wärtsilä, are Rolls-Royce, Cargotec, Ericsson, Meyer Turku, and Tieto.

Wärtsilä believes that artificial intelligence, robotics, and remote connections will play an important role in the shipping industry’s future as a means towards increasing efficiency and lowering operating costs. The company is committed to developing a strong digital offering and has recently acquired Eniram, a leading provider of energy management and vessel performance systems, as well as launching its updated Wärtsilä Nacos Platinum platform of navigation, automation, and control systems. Visit: www.wartsila.com