Volz to supply DAL B certifiable actuators for Thales UAS100

Volz subsidiary Aircraft Electronic Engineering GmbH (AEE) also takes part in the contract. AEE holds EASA approval for production, maintenance and alternative design, and develops the actuators with Volz to comply with EASA and FAA regulations.

Each UAS100 carries eleven Volz actuators: ten on the control surfaces and one on the throttle. All are derived from the DA 22 BLDC and fundamentally redeveloped under EASA rules, with electronics to DO-254 and mechanics and software to DO-178C. The servos are to reach Design Assurance Level B (DAL B).

The UAS100 is a long-range uncrewed system for civil and government uses, with operating ranges of more than 100 km. Thales designs it to meet the European SC-LUAS special condition for light unmanned aircraft natively, including drone flights over populated areas at SAIL VI. The aircraft combines system redundancy with the compact design expected of light uncrewed systems.

Phillipp Volz states that the prototypes flew all their test flights with standard Volz actuators, and that the company looks forward to starting work with Thales on the UAS100.

Why it matters

Volz Servos, a German actuator manufacturer, supplies brushless actuators for uncrewed aircraft. The standard DA 22 BLDC, the basis for the UAS100 servos, is 22 mm wide, rated at 12 VDC or 28 VDC (supply range 10-32 V), and offers PWM and RS 485 interfaces.

Volz actuators already fly on other platforms. The DA 26 is used in the Schiebel Camcopter S100, and DA 15-N-ISS servos drive the High Eye Airboxer swashplate.

The programme ties DAL B, DO-254 and DO-178C development to a 22 mm servo, with the EASA-approved production and alternative design status of AEE behind it. Volz’s standard rotary actuators are listed in the directory as the DA 15, DA 22 and DA 26 families.