ePropelled used the Farnborough International Airshow 2026 to make a pair of announcements aimed at advancing UAV propulsion toward a more connected, software-driven model. The company unveiled its eP Unified Architecture (ePUA) and ePLink connectivity platform, alongside a new integrated motor-controller line called the SKYLARK Series.

Together, the announcements point to a broader strategy at ePropelled, tying individual propulsion products into a single ecosystem that can be updated, diagnosed, and managed through software long after a system ships.

A Software-Defined Propulsion Platform

The eP Unified Architecture brings ePropelled's motors, controllers, starter-generators, power systems, and software onto a single platform, with the goal of managing propulsion at the system level across air, land, and sea applications rather than treating each component separately.

ePLink sits at the center of that platform. It's a compact onboard hardware device that gives direct access to a propulsion system during development, manufacturing, and operation, supporting firmware updates, configuration changes, diagnostics, and secure data exchange with cloud tools. ePropelled is launching the platform in an early-access phase, with firmware, communication protocols, and integration workflows undergoing validation and quality assurance.

"We are moving from static hardware to propulsion systems that can evolve over time," said Dean Marcarelli, ePropelled's chief commercial officer. 

Paired with the company's existing ePConnect software, ePLink is meant to let customers add capability over time, including diagnostics, performance tuning, manufacturing automation integration, and telematics, without swapping hardware.

ePropelled also said it's expanding support for CAN-based protocols, including DroneCAN and SAE J1939, to improve interoperability with other UAV, autonomous, and industrial systems. The architecture is built around sovereign supply chains and NDAA-compliant sourcing, a point the company is positioning for OEMs looking to standardize propulsion across multiple platforms.

SKYLARK Series Targets Faster UAV Assembly

The second announcement, the SKYLARK Series, is a fully integrated motor and controller line built for light-to-medium-duty UAVs. ePropelled designed it to reduce the wiring and connections needed during assembly, aiming to shorten build time per aircraft while improving repeatability at scale, in response to what the company describes as growing pressure to scale UAV production without sacrificing reliability or performance.

By combining motor and controller into a single unit, SKYLARK is also meant to free up space on the airframe, giving designers room for a more compact platform or additional payload capacity.

SKYLARK ships with ePConnect onboard, tying it into the eP Unified Architecture and the rest of ePropelled's motor, controller, and power system lineup. That's meant to simplify integration and commissioning while keeping the propulsion stack under unified control. Like ePUA, SKYLARK is built on sovereign supply chains and positioned as NDAA-compliant for European and NATO-aligned manufacturers and operators.

"By combining propulsion and intelligent control within a unified architecture, we are helping our customers achieve greater operational effectiveness while simplifying system integration," Marcarelli said.

Availability

ePropelled is showcasing both the eP Unified Architecture/ePLink platform and the SKYLARK Series at its Farnborough booth (2039) through the remainder of the show.