US-headquartered battery maker Factorial is supplying its solid-state lithium-metal cells for use in unmanned-drone applications.
It’s the first time the company’s FEST (Factorial Electrolyte System Technology) platform will be tested in the drone sector. FEST combines a lithium-metal anode, quasi-solid electrolyte technology, and a high-capacity cathode.
Avidrone Aerospace, a Canadian developer of dual-use unmanned aerial systems (UAS), will test the technology in demonstration flights of a high-endurance cargo drone.
It will focus on evaluating the technology’s energy efficiency, power discharge, payload capacity, and range under real-world operating conditions including high altitudes, variable temperatures, and sustained vibrations.
Initial modelling by Avidrone suggests FEST could double the range of its aircraft for a given payload.
Siyu Huang, CEO of Factorial, said: “Drones are not just an emerging market they’re a strategic priority for national defence, critical logistics, and infrastructure resilience, and we see this as the first of many aerospace applications for our solid-state batteries.”
The global UAS market is projected to grow by $36 billion up to 2028, with military applications expected to reach a market value of $65 billion by 2032.
UAS’ have become essential for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), electronic warfare, and precision-guided missions, as well as a wide range of commercial and industrial uses.
Factorial said it will continue its commitment to powering the electric vehicle transition. In April, it announced the successful testing of a vehicle-sized battery using FEST cells.
The validated 77Ah FEST cells demonstrated an energy density of 375Wh/kg with more than 600 cycles. The cells were able to be charged from 15% to over 90% in 18 minutes at room temperature. The cells have discharge rates up to 4C.
Image: Avidrone’s high-endurance cargo drone takes flight with Factorial’s FEST® solid-state battery technology, marking the first aerial deployment of the platform. Credit: Avidrone
