Unmanned Vehicles

Element 6 Composites has worked with multiple companies to help develop and manufacture a variety of unmanned ground and air vehicles. Combining decades of experience in composites, structural design, and aerodynamics, Element 6 Composites supports customers in basic configuration design and analysis, component optimization, prototyping, and production manufacture. With former and current projects ranging from military ground robotics to lighter than air vehicles to vertical takeoff and landing carbon fiber UAVs, we have both the expertise and facilities to support your project. Below are a few examples of unmanned vehicles and components Element 6 Composites has helped design and/or produce.

Element 6 Composites worked with Remote Aerial Tripod Specialists Inc. to develop carbon fiber gondolas and tail fins for use in unmanned airships. Some of these parts are shown in the pictures below, as well as an image of the entire vehicle in flight. By utilizing carbon fiber components, a significant weight savings was achieved.

Carbon fiber has also been used to create a sophisticated camera mount. These mounts are used for video or still photography to create stunning aerial photographs.

Element 6 Composites worked with International Climbing Machines [www.icm.cc] to develop a composite chassis for a revolutionary wall-climbing robot that was almost entirely made from carbon fiber. Using a combination of custom composite parts and CNC Dragonplate flat material, we constructed a robust yet lightweight carbon fiber UAV. This carbon fiber robot is used in the nuclear industry, airplane inspection, wind turbine blade repair, and many other applications where the environment is either extremely harsh to humans, or the ability to climb sideways and upside down would result in drastically reduced labor time (as in the case of inspecting an airplane fuselage or wing). By replacing the original metal structure with a carbon fiber robot, ICM was able to greatly increase the robot’s performance and payload carrying ability.

Element 6 Composites worked with AAI to develop carbon fiber control vanes for a small vertical takeoff and landing UAV. Due to the application, high tolerances and manufacturing consistency needed to be maintained.

For more information regarding the production of carbon fiber UAVs or to request a custom quote for a project, we’re more than happy to help. Contact us and one of our experts will get back to you to discuss your needs. Thank you in advance for choosing Element 6 Composites.