SBIR/STTR Research Award

Long range agile UAVs using advanced PEM and MAG2TM Fuel

Award identifier be59507a1287babf52a7db58bf7df515a7c8f66eef185987d6066eac7f828203Awarding agency Department of Defense · Air Force

Award amount

$149,996

Program and phase

STTR · Phase I

Award year

2021

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Award details

Awarding agency
Department of Defense
Branch
Air Force
Recipient company
POWDERMET INC
Proposal award date
2021-01-08
Contract end date
2021-07-08
UEI
TK9JT3DMDW14
Solicitation number
X20.D
Topic code
AFX20D-TCSO1

Research abstract

Multirotor unmanned areal vehicles (MRUAV) are excellent for surveillance and agility However, These systems have an inherent flaw of short flight time where almost no systems can last longer than 60 min with many systems only having 30 min or less of active flight time.  The proposed Technology combines a novel Hydrogen storage system using a kinetically modified magnesium hydride self regulating hydrogen generator with a light weight water reclaiming PEM fuel cell. This technology can achieve a system with an effective 8% by weight hydrogen storage vs 3-4% by weight H2 storage that is typical with a high pressure tank .   This novel system will allow longer flight times on all UAV types but specifically be able to extend MRUAV flight times longer than one hour with retained performance and reasonable payload capacity. This phase I program will show these systems in a TRL 4 scenario and the phase II program will demonstrate a flyable platform with over 1hr flight time showing TRL level 6.  These systems can be used on new UAV's built specifically for this type of power supply but they can also be installed on existing equipment to enhance its military performance envelope.  Powdermet will be providing a 100% US based supply chain for the consumable fuel source and both provide and or certify PEM fuel cell systems that utilize the MAG2 fuel source.

Technology keywords

Not reported

Other awards by this recipient

Verified by the same UEI. These are other public SBIR/STTR award pages, not a merged company record.

Awards with the same topic code

Verified by an exact topic code match. This is not a text-similarity match.

Research funding history

123 SBIR/STTR records share this UEI (1998–2024). Reported award amounts total $29,889,391. Reported amounts are not federal obligations.

Phases: Phase I, Phase II, Phase II – Direct to Phase II

Agencies: Department of Defense, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Department of Energy, National Science Foundation, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Transportation

Agency intelligence

Department of Defense

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