3 ms·
I work in electric aviation, and we're looking at similar hybrid fixed/vtol/distributed designs. You need the VTOL for most practical drone applications includi
by dTal 7y ago
I work in electric aviation, and we're looking at similar hybrid fixed/vtol/distributed designs. You need the VTOL for most practical drone applications including delivery, but you need fixed-wing linear flight for range. It's better to use many small fans for the VTOL part for reliability and stability, and it's more trouble that it's worth to try and re-use the same thrust units for hover and for forward flight (the design points are completely different). The main clever thing that strikes me about this design is the twin boom, which minimizes drag in forward flight and is very frugal with support structure for the lift fans.
On the other hand, this drone doesn't look production-ready to me. Too many exposed wires and servos. I don't rate its chances in a good downpour.
- petre 7y agoDefinitely not production ready. It's got exposed PCBs on the side of the boom. Probably the engine drivers.
- mkl 7y agoAny idea why the right tail is a different shape? Is that an antenna sticking out? Why the bulbous white part?
- thanhhaimai 7y agoI believe that's a Pitot tube. It's to determine the airspeed of the drone. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitot_tube https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitot_tube
- what_ever 7y agoThat Wired article is from 07/15/2018.
- romwell 7y ago>and it's more trouble that it's worth to try and re-use the same thrust units for hover and for forward flight (the design points are completely different). Do you know why the Osprey designers went for tilt-rotor? Would it be easier or harder to do something like that at drone delivery scale with electric motors?