CSIR-NAL has developed a medium-class BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) multi-copter UAV. The UAV is made out of a lightweight carbon fiber foldable structure for ease of transportation and has unique features like autonomous guidance through dual redundant MEMS-based digital Autopilot with advanced flight instrumentation systems.
DGCA, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Govt. of India has granted conditional permission to CSIR-NAL for conducting BVLOS flight trials. Subsequently, the NAL drone has completed about 50 hrs of flying to verify the performance parameters and the report is being submitted to MoCA for type approval.
NAL’s Octa-copter Drone is capable of carrying payload of 20 kg for a duration of 20 minutes. However, for longer duration applications, the payload is reduced suitably. It can fly at an operational altitude of 500 m AGL and a maximum flying speed of 36 kmph. Its regulatory compliance includes DGCA-NPNT, Geo-fencing, and digital sky with 360 degrees Collison avoidance making it one of the best UAVs in its class.
The uniqueness of this UAV is its higher payload and higher endurance which is perfect for last-mile delivery, floriculture mapping, geo exploration, precision agriculture pesticide spraying and medical transport at remote places. These drones have been configured to suit multiple applications for societal needs. The three applications envisaged are (a) Emergency Medical/ Vaccine Delivery (b) Agricultural Spraying and (c) for Geophysical Survey applications. Model based design of the autopilot control laws lead to the robust controller has been achieved.
This has enabled the Octa-copter to be suited for these varying applications. Figure show the all three Octa-copters with the three different payloads. The technology has been transferred to 4 MSMEs during the Wings India 2022.
 multi-copter UAV. The UAV is made out of a lightweight car....){kind=link}