A pioneering collaboration between two North West universities has resulted in a successful world-first Graphene UAV aeronautic flight test.
A pioneering collaboration between two North West universities has resulted in a successful world-first aeronautic flight test. The research initiative, between the University of Central Lancashire’s (UCLan) Engineering Innovation Centre (EIC) , and The University of Manchester’s National Graphene Institute, saw the first flight of a UAV part-constructed with Graphene. The UAV wings are coated in Graphene . Among many applications the new nano-material could be of major benefit to the aviation industry; it is the thinnest material on Earth, 200 times stronger than steel, fire resistant and a powerful insulator. The test flight, carried out in Preston, sought to trial graphene on the wing of a UAV to test its robustness, aerodynamic properties and how it might be integrated into the manufacturing process. Billy Beggs, UCLan’s Engineering Innovation Manager, said: “This demonstration was a world first and our initial flight tests have been very encouraging. “Thi...