Unmanned Systems Technology 018 | CES show report | ASV Global C-Cat 3 USV | Test centres | UUVs insight | Limbach L 275 EF | Lidar systems | Heliceo DroneBox | Composites

4 A decade on, it looks like we won’t see unmanned systems on the Moon any time soon. None of the five finalists in the $30m Lunar X Prize competition, which started in 2007, are able to launch in time, even after multiple extensions. As a result, it is closing without a single launch. This has been a financial issue rather than one of technology. Raising millions of dollars for a launch has proved a challenge too far for the teams, leaving some great unmanned technology stuck here on Earth. Even combining projects in a single launch wasn’t enough to reduce the financial risk. That’s not to say we won’t ever see unmanned systems going to the Moon. One team, Moon Express, gave up on the competition but is still developing unmanned systems to explore our nearest neighbour for commercial mining. Their development will benefit from the current boom in low-cost, lightweight sensors. Also, the demand for self-driving cars and trucks is pushing the reduction in weight and power consumption thanks to volume manufacturing. In an interesting reversal, new sensors for the consumer market, as shown in our CES report on page 14 and our Lidar focus on page 68, will end up driving technologies for space systems rather than the other way around. With self-driving taxi services rolling out in the USA this year, and tests of self-driving cars on public roads now being carried out in almost every part of the world, these sensors are becoming an integral part of the automotive supply chain, and are proving a key contribution to all kinds of unmanned systems. Nick Flaherty | Technology Editor Space to innovate February/March 2018 | Unmanned Systems Technology Intro | February/March 2018 Editorial Director Ian Bamsey Assistant Editor Guy Richards Technology Editor Nick Flaherty Contributors Peter Donaldson, Rory Jackson Bianca Villiers, Andrew White Technical Consultants Charlie McCartan Paul Weighell Ian Williams-Wynn Dr Donough Wilson Design Andrew Metcalfe andrew@meticulousdesign.com UST Ad Sales Please direct all enquiries to Simon Moss simon@ust-media.com Subscriptions Jim Cavanagh jim@ust-media.com Publishing Director Simon Moss General Manager Chris Perry Office Administrator Frankie Robins For UST Online please contact: EchoBlue Media Online Publisher Caroline Rees caroline@echobluemedia.com Subscribe today @ www.ust-media.com Editorial opportunities Do you have a strong technical knowledge of one or more aspects of unmanned systems? As we grow we are on the lookout for experts who can contribute to these pages. If that sounds an interesting challenge then don’t hesitate to explore the possibility of writing for us by emailing: ian@ust-media.com Simplicity is the essence Design and development details of ASV Global’s entry-level survey catamaran Let there be light The low-down on Lidar sensing Compound interest Why composites are ideal for unmanned vehicles UST 18 : FEB/MAR 2018 UK £15,USA$30,EUROPE e 22 Volume Four | Issue Two February/March 2018 High Power Media Limited Whitfield House, Cheddar Road, Wedmore, Somerset, BS28 4EJ, England Tel: +44 (0)1934 713957 Fax: +44 (0)20 8497 2102 www.highpowermedia.com ISSN 2056-9823 Printed in Great Britain ©High Power Media All rights reserved. Reproduction (in whole or in part) of any article or illustration without the written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited. While care is taken to ensure the accuracy of information herein, the publisher can accept no liability for errors or omissions. Nor can responsibility be accepted for the content of any advertisement. US COPIES ONLY Unmanned Systems Technology ISSN No: 2056-9823, is published by High Power Media in England and is distributed in the United States by SPP, 17B S Middlesex Ave, Monroe, NJ 08831. Periodicals postage paid at New Brunswick, NJ. Postmaster please send address changes to: Unmanned Systems Technology, 17B S Middlesex Ave, Monroe, NJ 08831. SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions are available from High Power Media at the address above or directly from our website. Overseas copies are sent via air mail. UST SUBSCRIPTION OFFERS 1 year subscription – 15% discount: UK – £75; Europe – e 125 USA – $150; ROW – £97.50 2 year subscription – 25% discount: UK – £135; Europe – e 225 USA – $270; ROW – £175.50 Make cheques payable to High Power Media. Visa, Mastercard, Amex and UK Maestro accepted. Quote card number and expiry date (also issue/start date for Maestro)