Low-Cost High Efficiency Engines for Attritable UAS

Ā Two-stroke engines are known for their high specific power output, compact packaging, and simple, lightweight design.Ā Additionally, adaptation to operation with heavy fuels (JP-8/F24, JP-5, Jet-A) has been made possible with electronic fuel injection technology.Ā This has made two-stroke engines the propulsion engine of choice for Group 2 & lightweight Group 3 UASÆs.Ā Ā However, whether operating on gasoline or heavy-fuels, specific fuel consumption of two-stroke engines is much higher than 4-stroke engine architectures.Ā This is due to the fresh air and fuel being allowed to escape into the exhaust during intake scavenging as well as the need to run with extra fuel than stoichiometric to cool engine components.Ā Two commercially available technologies, charge stratification and piston port architecture, can be utilized to eliminate direct fuel loss out the exhaust and the need for excess fuel to cool engine components.Ā This can all be done without the need for expensive and bulky electronic fuel injection equipment and controls. Ā A simple, lightweight and fuel efficient two-stroke engine would enable inexpensive, attritable UAS platforms for long range Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) as well as Suppression of Enemy Air Defense (SEAD) missions.Ā Inexpensive, attritable platforms would overwhelm and deplete an adversaryÆs defense weapons systems. Ā Under the Phase I program, Baker Engineering LLC seeks to prove through design and testing that a carbureted piston port two-stroke engine with adjustable air charge can offer improved fuel consumption, enabling low cost, high efficiency engines attritable UAS platforms.ĀĀĀ