UAV UCLan unveils first graphene skinned UAV Juno

On the North West Aerospace Alliance (NWAA), the three-and-a-half-metre wide aircraft was unveiled. It is the first aircraft in the world that has a graphene skin.

The University’s aerospace engineering team has worked in partnership with the University of Manchester’s National Graphene Institute (NGI), Haydale Graphene Industries (Haydale) and the Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC). A further range of other companies helped to develop the UAV.

UCLan engineering students have been involved in developing and building Juno on the Preston Campus. The whole project team represents a long-term partnership between the organisations and the University. It is expected, that this strategic partnership will grow stronger over the course of the opened EIC facility in February 2019.

“The programme supports the objectives of the UK Industrial Strategy and the University’s Engineering Innovation Centre (EIC) to increase industry relevant research and applications linked to key local specialisms. Given that Lancashire represents the fourth largest aerospace cluster in the world, there is perhaps no better place to be developing next generation technologies for the UK aerospace industry,” said Billy Beggs, UCLan’s Engineering Innovation Manager.

Previously, UCLan has performed the first flight of a graphene skinned wing. Furthermore, the company has also designed a capsule with graphene parts. This capsule was launched into near space using a high-altitude balloon.

As next step, the team will take Juno on a first flight. Over this course, UCLan hopes to gather further information during test flights over the next two months.