POMPANO BEACH, FL--(Marketwire) -- Cyclone Power Technologies Inc. (PINKSHEETS: CYPW) has received a contract from Robotic Technologies Inc. (RTI), of Potomac, MD, to develop a beta biomass engine system which will be used to power RTI's Energetically Autonomous Tactical Robot (EATR), a project sponsored by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Defense Sciences Office.
The EATR is an autonomous robotic platform able to perform long-range, long-endurance military missions without the need for manual or conventional re-fueling. The system is designed to obtain its energy by foraging—engaging in biologically-inspired, organism-like, energy harvesting behavior which is the equivalent of eating. The patent pending robotic system can find, ingest and extract energy from biomass in the environment (and other organically based energy sources), as well as use conventional and alternative fuels (such as gasoline, heavy fuel, kerosene, diesel, propane, coal, cooking oil and solar) when suitable.
"Cyclone brings to this project one of the most advanced external combustion engine technologies we have seen," stated Dr. Robert Finkelstein, President of RTI. "In terms of power-to-size ratio, scalability and fuel flexibility, the Cyclone engine is ideal for a self-sustaining, autonomous intelligent robotic vehicle designed for unique military or civil applications."
This development project is expected to have two phases. In Phase I, Cyclone will build and deliver within six months the engine with a biomass combustion chamber for demonstration purposes. Cyclone believes that its radial six-cylinder, 16HP Waste Heat Engine (WHE) system is ideally suited for this application. In Phase II, Cyclone would build and deliver the biomass trimmer/gatherer and feeder system to work with its engine power source.
According to RTI, the EATR demonstration project can lead to three potential commercialization projects: (1) the development of prototype and operational EATR systems for military and civil applications; (2) new civil and military applications for the autonomous intelligent control system; and, most relevant for Cyclone, (3) development of the hybrid external combustion engine system for civil and military automotive applications, whether for manned or unmanned vehicles.
"This is an exciting, out-of-the-box application for our engine technology," stated Harry Schoell, CEO of Cyclone. "Working with RTI on this DARPA-sponsored project will allow us to demonstrate the huge advantages of the Cyclone's power-to-size ratio compared to other external combustion engines, and great fuel flexibility compared with internal combustion engines."
DARPA is the central research and development organization for the U.S. Department of Defense. More information about the EATR project can be found at www.robotictechnologyinc.com.
About Cyclone Power Technologies
Cyclone Power Technologies is the developer of the award-winning Cyclone Engine—an eco-friendly external combustion engine with the power and versatility to run everything from portable electric generators and garden equipment to cars, trucks and locomotives. Invented by company founder and CEO Harry Schoell, the patented Cyclone Engine is a modern day steam engine, ingeniously designed to achieve high thermal efficiencies through a compact heat-regenerative process, and to run on virtually any fuel—including bio-diesels, syngas or solar—while emitting fewer greenhouse gases and irritating pollutants into the air. Currently in its late stages of development, the Cyclone Engine was recognized by Popular Science Magazine as the Invention of the Year for 2008, and was presented with the Society of Automotive Engineers' AEI Tech Award in 2006 and 2008. Additionally, Cyclone was recently named Environmental Business of the Year by the Broward County Environmental Protection Department.
About Robotic Technology Inc.
Robotic Technology Incorporated (RTI), a Maryland, U.S.A. corporation chartered in 1985, provides systems and services in the fields of intelligent systems, robotic vehicles (including unmanned ground, air, and sea vehicles), robotics and automation, weapons systems, intelligent control systems, intelligent transportation systems, intelligent manufacturing, and other advanced technology for government, industry, and not-for-profit clients.