Avior Labs, a leading South African unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) manufacturer, has announced that its new Elevation VTOL (Vertical Takeoff and Landing) UAV is now in production. The company showcased the Elevation-G (Gimbal) aircraft at the Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) 2024 expo, marking a significant milestone in its development.
Elevation Series: Survey and Surveillance
The Elevation series includes two main variants: the Elevation-S (Survey) and the Elevation-G (Gimbal). The Elevation-S, the original design, is tailored for survey missions and can carry various fixed high-definition (HD), thermal, or multispectral cameras.
In contrast, the Elevation-G is optimized for surveillance applications, such as security and policing, and is equipped with a NextVision DragonEye2 gimbal, featuring the latest tracking computer and real-time video streaming capabilities.
Innovative Design and Local Development
Both production versions of the Elevation UAV feature locally developed hidden embedded antennas integrated into the composite structure, along with several other enhancements over the prototypes. Dr. Benjamin Broughton, Managing Director of Avior Labs, highlighted these improvements, emphasizing the company’s commitment to innovation and local manufacturing.
Avior Labs first unveiled the Elevation prototype at AAD 2022. Two years later, the company has commenced low-rate production, with plans to ramp up to full production by 2025. Orders for both the Elevation-S and Elevation-G are now being accepted at AAD 2024.
South African Manufacturing Excellence
“We are one of very few truly South African VTOL manufacturers capable of mass-producing drone systems, including the airframes,” said Dr. Broughton. The design IP, firmware, moulds, manufacturing IP, and many electronic components are proprietary to Avior Labs. The company also holds a patent and several trademarks associated with the Elevation series.
The airframes are manufactured at two facilities in Silverton, with final assembly, configuration, and software integration conducted at the company’s design and integration office in Irene. Excluding payloads, the drones have approximately 85% South African content. While Avior Labs is actively marketing the Elevation UAVs overseas, they are also seeking significant interest from local operators and government agencies at AAD.
Strategic Partnerships and Agreements
At AAD 2024, Avior Labs signed three key agreements:
- Aerotechnic: Establishing Aerotechnic as the exclusive global supply chain and procurement partner for Avior Labs.
- Litson and Associates Risk Management Systems: Joint development of a drone operations management system.
- LambdaG: A research and development partnership to develop, integrate, and test enhanced embedded antennas suitable for UAVs and improved ground stations.
Versatile and Efficient UAV Design
The Elevation UAV is a versatile, multi-role VTOL fixed-wing drone. It is fully electric, offering 90 minutes of useful flight time in its standard configuration. The UAV features a single tilting propeller on the nose for flight efficiency, creating an exceptionally low noise footprint, while three other propellers around the airframe provide vertical lift. The Elevation has a wingspan of 2.54 meters and a maximum takeoff weight of 46 kg. Its outer wings are detachable for transport and ease of assembly, allowing the UAV to be conveniently packaged in a box that fits in the boot of a car.
The Elevation-S is ideal for surveying areas of land around 200 hectares and inspecting linear infrastructure such as pipelines, railroads, and transmission lines. The Elevation-G, equipped with an EO/IR gimbal payload, is perfect for surveillance or search and rescue activities, day and night. Other applications include security, disaster management, deliveries, and precision agriculture.
Commitment to Innovation and Local Content
Established in 2019, Avior Labs specializes in developing and manufacturing efficient commercial UAVs, associated technologies, and software. The company has designed and built aerial vehicles to develop and validate technologies, supporting computational modeling on behalf of its clients. The Elevation series represents Avior Labs’ first UAV designed for commercial and military operators and service providers.