4 ms·

"..we’ve designed-in multiple redundant systems and engineered out all single points of failure." Can this aircraft glide or auto-rotate to the earth if it has

"..we’ve designed-in multiple redundant systems and engineered out all single points of failure." Can this aircraft glide or auto-rotate to the earth if it has a catastrophic power malfunction?

Wingman4l7 4y ago
It's possible it could have a ballistic full-aircraft recovery parachute: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cirrus_Airframe_Parachute_System https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cirrus_Airframe_Parachute_Syst... I would hope these would be standard on vehicles that cannot "dead-stick" (glide) to landing like a fixed wing, or auto-rotate to the ground like a helicopter.
- Ancapistani 4y ago
  In forward flight, I wonder what its glide ratio is? In VTOL, safety is a much greater concern. Six props with what appear to be independent motors makes me feel a lot better about it from the start, though. What’s its TWR?
  - addaon 4y ago
    Not going to answer anything not obvious from the video (sorry), but it's actually twelve independent motors -- the six that catch your eye in that opening shot are the front six, you can just see another six behind them.
    - Ancapistani 4y ago
      I wouldn’t expect you to go into extreme detail based on a random, pseudo-anonymous poster on a forum! :) My point being that if the TWR is > ~1.5 - and I’m quite sure it is, or VTOL would be very difficult - then you can “safely” lose a prop and still be able to get back to the ground.
      - addaon 4y ago
        Yep. And the more independent rotors you have, the less excess thrust you need to have good performance in a single failure; but the more you have to consider multiple failures.
  - FabHK 4y ago
    I’d expect a glide ratio similar to a brick.
FabHK 4y ago
No, it cannot glide or auto-rotate. However, there will be several different batteries and powertrains and control systems, eliminating any single point of failure. For the Volocopter (an aircraft with 18 rotors), at least three rotors or one battery system can fail and it can still land in a controlled manner. There is also the option of fitting a ballistic chute.

"..we’ve designed-in multiple redundant systems and engineered out all single points of failure." Can this aircraft glide or auto-rotate to the earth if it has a catastrophic power malfunction?

Wingman4l7 4y ago

It's possible it could have a ballistic full-aircraft recovery parachute: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cirrus_Airframe_Parachute_System https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cirrus_Airframe_Parachute_Syst... I would hope these would be standard on vehicles that cannot "dead-stick" (glide) to landing like a fixed wing, or auto-rotate to the ground like a helicopter.

Ancapistani 4y ago
In forward flight, I wonder what its glide ratio is? In VTOL, safety is a much greater concern. Six props with what appear to be independent motors makes me feel a lot better about it from the start, though. What’s its TWR?
- addaon 4y ago
  Not going to answer anything not obvious from the video (sorry), but it's actually twelve independent motors -- the six that catch your eye in that opening shot are the front six, you can just see another six behind them.
  - Ancapistani 4y ago
    I wouldn’t expect you to go into extreme detail based on a random, pseudo-anonymous poster on a forum! :) My point being that if the TWR is > ~1.5 - and I’m quite sure it is, or VTOL would be very difficult - then you can “safely” lose a prop and still be able to get back to the ground.
    - addaon 4y ago
      Yep. And the more independent rotors you have, the less excess thrust you need to have good performance in a single failure; but the more you have to consider multiple failures.
- FabHK 4y ago
  I’d expect a glide ratio similar to a brick.

FabHK 4y ago

No, it cannot glide or auto-rotate. However, there will be several different batteries and powertrains and control systems, eliminating any single point of failure. For the Volocopter (an aircraft with 18 rotors), at least three rotors or one battery system can fail and it can still land in a controlled manner. There is also the option of fitting a ballistic chute.