Lower friction in fuel pumps, expanding wing designs and variable frequencies were just some of the improvements to drone technology University of North Texas scientists pitched this week.
Scientists on Monday were presenting their work to representatives from the Army Research Lab, which represents a significant source of funding for the university’s drone research, at UNT’s Discovery Park.
Among them was doctoral student Kelly Jacques, whose team studied ways to reduce friction, and therefore damage, in drone fuel pumps.
As it stands, fuel pumps pose a problem for tribologists — those who study friction — because they are among the mostly frequently damaged parts of drones caused by friction.
“Largely what my research focuses on is comparing what current fuel pumps are made out of to new materials like harder ceramics or dynamic coatings ……
