Intelligent Energy Hydrogen Fuel Cells Super Extend Drone Flight Range

Summary: The 2016 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas Jan. 6 to 9 unveils Intelligent Energy hydrogen fuel cells that super extend drone flight range.

Intelligent Energy's hydrogen fuel cell range extender prototype on drone: Intelligent Energy @intellenergy via Twitter Jan. 8, 2016

Consumer electronic prototypes powered by Intelligent Energy hydrogen fuel cells, including drone flight range extenders, are unveiled at a special Intelligent Energy Embedded World event for the duration of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2016), Jan. 6 to 9, 2016, in Las Vegas.

“Drones are one of the most exciting new technologies. Even with advanced batteries their value is limited. For commercial use, they need to offer better flight times and range,” says Julian Hughes, Group Business Development director and acting managing director for Intelligent Energy’s Consumer Electronics Division. “That will all become possible with the release of our range extender platform.”

The power technology company, based in Loughborough, England, announced on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2015, the development of its prototype of a hydrogen fuel cell-powered drone flight range extender and the prototype’s unveiling at CES 2016. Intelligent Energy hydrogen fuel cells tackle the two critical problems of short range and long battery recharges that have challenged the growing, lucrative market of commercial and enterprise drones.

Combining an ultra lightweight fuel cell stack with a battery, Intelligent Energy’s range extender significantly increases drone flight time from the typical maximum flight time of 20 minutes to several hours of drone flight time. Intelligent Energy hydrogen fuel cells drastically reduce recharging downtime from one or two hours down to minutes or even seconds. Because Intelligent Energy hydrogen fuel cells are packed in cartridges, swapping cartridges minimizes downtown.

“A longer flight time coupled with a quick refuel opens a wide range of new commercial possibilities for businesses such as drones for inspection of offshore platforms, search and rescue, high quality aerial photography, precision agriculture and parcel delivery and more,” explains Julian Hughes. He emphasizes: “Given we also have the ability to tailor solutions to customer requirements, this could completely revolutionise the potential of drone technology.”

Fourteen months of testing precede Intelligent Energy’s December announcement of its Intelligent Energy hydrogen fuel cell range extender prototype. Flight tests concern two prototype configurations. One prototype is only powered by the Intelligent Energy hydrogen fuel cells. The alternative prototype has a hybrid configuration in which the Intelligent Energy hydrogen fuel cell constantly charges a conventional battery. Results show that a camera operating during each test flight records a steady, uninterrupted image. A successful camera image is considered to be a critical feature in the use of commercial drones.

The unveiling of the Intelligent Energy hydrogen fuel cells for extending drone range takes place from Tuesday, Jan. 5, to Saturday, Jan. 9, at Intelligent Energy’s display, Embedded World, at The Venetian Hotel. Intelligent Energy’s display is sited within CES 2016’s Tech West location. The annual global consumer electronics and consumer technology trade show also includes two other locations: Tech East and Tech South.

Recognition for Intelligent Energy’s hydrogen fuel cell technology in the 12 months prior to CES 2016 include Innovation Award Honoree at 2015’s Consumer Electronics Show and Gold Award winner at 2015’s Edison Awards.

In Intelligent Energy’s news release on Jan. 3, 2016, Julian Hughes explains the company’s valuable sector in energy technology: “The existing grid infrastructure was not designed to keep up with today’s power requirements and alternatives need to be developed, which is where we come in. What we are aiming for is to mobilise energy production for consumer electronics and unleash the potential to realise a true global wireless economy.”

Intelligent Energy's CES 2016 display included prototypes for fuel cell-powered iPhones and laptops: Intelligent Energy @intellenergy via Twitter Jan. 4, 2016

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

Intelligent Energy's hydrogen fuel cell range extender prototype on drone: Intelligent Energy @intellenergy via Twitter Jan. 8, 2016, @ https://twitter.com/intellenergy/status/685434583953838080

Intelligent Energy's CES 2016 display included prototypes for fuel cell-powered iPhones and laptops: Intelligent Energy @intellenergy via Twitter Jan. 4, 2016, @ https://twitter.com/intellenergy/status/684044418605793280

For further information:

"Intelligent Energy Exhibits Hydrogen Fuel Cell-Powered Devices at CES 2016." Intelligent Energy > News & Events > Company news. Jan. 4, 2016.
Available @ http://www.intelligent-energy.com/news-and-events/company-news/2016/01/04/intelligent-energy-exhibits-hydrogen-fuel-cell-powered-devices-at-ces-2016/

Intelligent Energy. "Embedded World at CES 2016." YouTube. Jan. 4, 2016.
Available @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0_xoRJ8ZX4

"Intelligent Energy Hydrogen Fuel Cells Significantly Extend Drone Flight Time." Intelligent Energy. Dec. 15, 2015.
Available @ http://www.intelligent-energy.com/news-and-events/company-news/2015/12/15/intelligent-energy-hydrogen-fuel-cells-significantly-extend-drone-flight-time/

Intelligent Energy @intellenergy. "Intelligent Energy Exhibits Hydrogen Fuel Cell-Powered Devices at CES 2016." Twitter. Jan. 4, 2016.
Available @ https://twitter.com/intellenergy/status/684044418605793280

Intelligent Energy @intellenergy. "Our fuel cell drone prototype at #CES2016 #Drones #FuelCells #Embedded Power." Twitter. Jan. 8, 2016.
Available @ https://twitter.com/intellenergy/status/685434583953838080

Williams, Martyn. "Fuel cell keeps drones in flight for hours, not minutes." PC World > Consumer Electronics. Dec. 15, 2015.
Available @ http://www.pcworld.com/article/3015217/consumer-electronics/fuel-cell-keeps-drones-in-flight-for-hours-not-minutes.html