Hybrid Engine Brings Silent Death

Strategypage.com ^ | 9-05-06

[Renfield]

September 5, 2006: Noting that silent UAVs are more useful than noisy one, an Israeli firm has developed a hybrid motor for small (under a hundred pounds) and medium size (up to half a ton) UAVs. The gasoline powered portion of the engine can spin the propeller, while also charging the batteries. When over an area where the enemy might hear the UAV, the operator can switch to battery power. Especially at night, loud motors on UAVs often spoil the element of surprise, by letting the enemy below know that there's a UAV watching........

[Renfield]

I wonder what "death from above" will look like in 20 years.....nuclear bumblebees?

[Dog]

Fyi..

[neodad]

I knew hybrids were good for something.

[Blueflag]

Years ago Porsche developed an internal combustion engine for UAVs that runs at absurdly low RPMs that is VERY hard to hear. In operation, one 'lugs' the motor to produce power at as little as 400 RPM.

Quite silent, even at 500' AGL.

[rhombus]

I wonder what "death from above" will look like in 20 years.....nuclear bumblebees?

Have you checked those spiders in the corner lately? They may be checking on you.

[greasepaint]

what kind of engines do these things have?

piston?

why not use a muffler?

[GeorgefromGeorgia]

New meaning to "silent but deadly."

[yankeedame]

I wonder what "death from above" will look like in 20 years.....nuclear bumblebees?

LOL! No, no, no!! Flying pigs. It'll dive the Muslims bonkers!

[MarkL]

At first I misread UAV for SUV! Imagine, a hybrid engine in an SUV brings silent death! Rush would have a field day!

Mark

[Red Badger]

Your mileage may vary............significantly.........

[PreciousLiberty]

"At first I misread UAV for SUV! Imagine, a hybrid engine in an SUV brings silent death! Rush would have a field day!"

Quiet hybrids do have a safety issue - people who listen for oncoming traffic instead of looking are used to internal combustion engines. ;-)

Natural selection strikes again. lol

[sportutegrl]

If only Patton would have had hybrid tanks. He wouldn't have run out of gasoline.

[pyx]

I wonder what "death from above" will look like in 20 years.....nuclear bumblebees?

Not far off the mark. A Google search with the term "tiny UAVs" turns up lots. Apparently, for several years there have been these.

With miniturization, for the past couple of years, small half pound helicopter like UAVs are used.

But my favorite is here. The idea that insects could be used this way, to fight those who would force the rest of us to exist, dressed in filthy nightshirts, into the misery of 6th century ideological enslavement, is enough make me smile with measured optimisim.



Innocent butterfly, indeed.

[norraad]

Flying pigs, great idea, no reason we can't have fun while cleaning house.

The facts that these looohooosers have no sense of humor makes it all the better.

[Proud_texan]

A very good question when you factor in the possibilities of nanotechnology. Your idea of a bumblebee nuke, or at least something as small and lethal could be very possible.

[pjd]

Years ago Porsche developed an internal combustion engine for UAVs that runs at absurdly low RPMs that is VERY hard to hear. In operation, one 'lugs' the motor to produce power at as little as 400 RPM.

My Jeep idles at 500. I put the transfer case in low-range and drive for miles off-road at 5 or 6 hundred RPM.

[hoosierham]

Vietnam theater used excellent mufflers and rubber belt drive,etc.No reason why these can't be made smaller.

A UAV made to look like a flying pig would be great!

[Andonius_99]

You laugh, I saw an article (I believe it was even here on FR) that showed the next generation of UAV's...12" (yes, inch) wingspan and controlled from a laptop...fold it up, put it in a tube, stuff it in a backpack, and go! Amazing!

[Andonius_99]

Have you checked those spiders in the corner lately? They may be checking on you.

nah, but they keep barkin' at me, though! :-)

[null and void]