Additive Manufacturing (AM, or 3D printing) is an emerging manufacturing technology with far-reaching implications: AM is increasingly used to produce functional parts, including components for safety-critical systems, but its unique capabilities and dependence on computerization raise a concern that an AMgenerated part could be sabotaged by a cyber-physical attack.
In this paper, it is demonstrated the validity of this concern by presenting a novel attack: reducing the fatigue life of a 3D-printed quadcopter propeller, causing its mid-flight failure, ultimately leading to the quadcopter’s fall and destruction.
Hexadrone's Tundra-MUAV is showcased at Eurosatory 2018, Paris Nord Villepinte, booth F528 Hall 6. The event is held from June 11th to June 15th. It is the first 100% customizable UAV for users specialized in defense and rescue.
The UAV’s body and arms have been manufactured in Windform® SP (body) and Windform® XT 2.0 (arms). The rapidly detachable arms and three quick release attaches make the Tundra-M extremely flexible to meet the needs of any profession, while making operational conditions easier to maintain.
Tundra-M is Hexadrone’s first fully modular and easy-to-use UAV for industrial and multi-purpose tasks, made for extreme weather conditions thanks to rugged, waterproof design. Tundra-M is the most advanced professional UAV created by Hexadrone.
Tundra-M3D printed functional prototype has been manufactured by CRP Technology via professional 3D printing using Windform® Carbon-composite materials. Windform® XT 2.0 and Windform® SP are Carbon-fiber reinforced composite 3D printing materials from Windform family of high performance materials.
Windform was created by CRP Technology, CRP Group’s specialized company in advanced 3D printing and additive manufacturing solutions.
According to Fred Squire, Director of Sales and Marketing at FT Technologies, “The FT205 is the first in a new generation of lightweight ultrasonic wind sensors. The light weight of the FT205 together with the proven FT ACU-RES technology make it ideal for use on aerial UAVs and other applications where weight is critical.”
FT Technologies, a British company specializing in the development and production of ultrasonic wind sensors, has reportedly launched its first UAV-specific and 3D printed device. FT Technologies’ FT205 is designed to aid UAV users in environmental projects and to execute more reliable flights.
Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) technology has been used to make the device, achieving a weight of just 100g. According to reports, the material used is a graphite and nylon composite. The device works in extreme environments, at a maximum altitude of 4.000 m and in temperatures between -20 and +70°C.
The FT205 sensor has been 3D printed by fellow British company Graphite Additive Manufacturing (Graphite AM) a specialist service bureau and consultancy firm. The FT205 uses acoustic resonance technology to deliver environmental information about the wind speed, direction and temperature, bases on minute vibrations in the device, and an in-built compass. A versatile piece of equipment, it can be plugged into an UAV’s input/output communications, mounted on a flat surface, or attached to a pole.
Chemical company Evonik, like many other chemical companies, saw the opportunity there is in 3D printing and began manufacturing materials for the technology along with its other products a while ago.
Evonik’s work with 3D printingmaterials has taken it into the realm of biocompatible implants, potentially leading to more effective treatment for people with serious bone injuries or diseases.
UAVs go well with 3D printing, and that is a good new for anyone who, like Evonik, is considering using UAVs in large-scale maintenance operations, or for many, many other purposes.
¿Is 3D printing speeding adoption of UAVs across industries and across the world? Yes: 3D printing means UAVs are easier, faster and cheaper to manufacture, and because they’re so easy and inexpensive to create, bigger risks can be taken with their design and their usage, meaning more creative applications.
Recently, Evonik began looking into UAVs as part of its plant maintenance program. The company 3D printed a multicopter and flew it over its Wesseling site. The multicopter transmitted live images of the water tower and pipe bridges to a monitor on the control unit, demonstrating its efficacy in providing support for maintenance work. “Overall, the experiment showed that drones are ideally suited as support for projects such as maintenance work,”Evonik said.
Another good example of the good marriage between 3D Printing and UAV manufacturing is the partially 3D printed Bat Bot, a marvel of engineering, designed as an alternative to traditional quadcopters, to be used in urban areas or other cramped environments. Bat Bot was designed to be used for everything from search and rescue to personal assistance. ¿Also for military? Well, the military uses of Bat Bot can’t be ignored, as UAVs have already become critical for surveillance and supply delivery, and soldiers are beginning to 3D print their own with more frequency.
Currently, Polymertal –global leader in metal plating solutions– together with a large Israeli defense company, are testing a unique large metal-plated 3D-printed part.
¿Why, and why now? Very simple: In recent years, more engineering-grade materials have become available for use with plastic 3D printers and these offer a good solution for metal replacement applications, including end-use parts. ¿What if you could combine the advantages of plastic and metal together?
In the coming weeks the 3D-printed version of that end-use part will be assembled and tested on an UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle). Success in testing would mean the defense company has a new option of performing a fully functional test of such parts which allows for faster design and testing cycles.
Metal-plating could enable the introduction of cost-effective hybrid UAV plastic parts with the following properties provided by the metal layer:
3) Barrier Characteristics (offering protection from humidity, chemicals, fumes…)
4) Enhancing Mechanical Properties – over the original plastic parts design flexibility
5) ESD Protection
Metal plating is a method of depositing a thin layer of metal, usually Copper or Nickel, on an object made of a different material. This is done in order to improve one or more of the object’s properties, for example strength; thermal or electrical conductivity; chemical or heat resistance. ¿The result? a hybrid product and a new set of potential solutions for metal replacement applications.
