AUS conducts first successful hydrogen fuel cell powered UAV flight in UAE

A team of researchers from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at American University of Sharjah (AUS) successfully conducted the first hydrogen fuel cell powered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flight in the UAE and GCC region recently at Hamiryah in Sharjah.

Being the first of its kind in the region, the project marks significant progress made in the development of electric propulsion aircrafts and long endurance UAVs. The UAV was designed and scratch-built at AUS using available materials and was powered by renewable energy. The AUS team was led by Dr. Mohamed Gadalla, Professor of Mechanical Engineering; and comprised Sayem Zafar, Lab Instructor, Mechanical Engineering; John Mempin, pilot; as well as senior undergraduate students.

The UAV was powered by a single Proton Exchange Membrane hydrogen fuel cell (PEMFC) and cruised for 10 minutes at a steady speed. Fuel cells are suitable power systems because of their high energy density which allows longer endurance. Hydrogen fuel cells create electricity by decomposing hydrogen while producing water as exhaust.

“We achieved our desired goal of designing and building a fuel cell powered UAV, so the project was a major success,” said Dr. Gadalla. “The test flight also proved that it is possible to power a UAV with a hydrogen fuel cell,” he added, explaining the aim of the project.

Currently, fuel cells can power a small UAV, as demonstrated by the test flight, providing a low-cost alternative to other power sources. Long endurance UAVs have several applications, namely border patrol, infrastructure inspections, surveys, rescue efforts, media and educational purposes, environmental research, and parcel or item delivery. Long endurance UAVs can also serve as a substitute to satellites.

“The designed UAV has proven to be a stable platform for many future aerial applications,” explained Zafar.

Further tests will be conducted to test the UAV’s endurance, payload capability, and its ability to fly as an autonomous system.

About AUS

American University of Sharjah (AUS) was founded in 1997 by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. The university was envisaged by His Highness as a leading educational institution in the Gulf region. Located in University City, Sharjah, AUS is a not-for-profit, independent, institution of higher education formed on the American model.

It offers 26 majors and 52 minors at the undergraduate level, and 14 master’s degrees through the College of Architecture, Art and Design; the College of Arts and Sciences; the College of Engineering; and the School of Business Administration. These programs are designed to meet the challenges of a competitive and dynamic business and industrial environment.

As a provider of quality higher education in the Gulf, AUS is licensed and its programs are accredited by the Commission for Academic Accreditation of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in the United Arab Emirates. AUS is accredited in the United States of America by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

The bachelor of science degree programs in chemical engineering, civil engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering offered by the College of Engineering are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET (www.abet.org). The bachelor of science degree program in computer science offered by the College of Engineering is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET (www.abet.org). The Bachelor of Architecture program of the College of Architecture, Art and Design is accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) of the United States. The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) as well as the Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) degrees offered by the School of Business Administration are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).