Rohde & Schwarz, a Gold Sponsor of the HORYZN and LEVITUM student initiatives at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), is providing test equipment to help students working to develop, build, and test vertical takeoff and landing drones for various applications. Intended for use in rescue operations or to complete long-distance journeys with the help of fuel cells, the drones will be tested with the company's latest generation of R&S MXO 4 oscilloscopes for control electronics testing, as well as the needed accessories and training.
Applying the theoretical knowledge gained during degree studies to the development of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) capable of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL), the HORYZN initiative brings together an international and interdisciplinary team of students to develop innovative solutions to real-world problems. Their first project involved the largest eVTOL UAV built in the history of TUM. In their next project, they will trial UAVs in the transportation of defibrillators for medical use cases.
The LEVITUM initiative is developing a hydrogen-powered eVTOL drone able to travel over 300 km without refueling, using the latest fuel-cell systems and state-of-the-art type IV pressurized tanks. This "Mercurius" prototype promises to be the world's longest-range UAV, carrying less than a 25 kg takeoff weight. It should be able to outperform commercially available drones, with minimal refueling and lower overall costs. These TUM initiatives help students translate the scientific methods they have learned into practical applications.