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Interesting research. Assuming that the benefit of fixed-wing aircraft is efficiency in relatively straight flight, I'm wondering how this aircraft compares in
by chabons 4y ago
Interesting research. Assuming that the benefit of fixed-wing aircraft is efficiency in relatively straight flight, I'm wondering how this aircraft compares in efficiency vs agility against a quadcopter of similar weight.
- neltnerb 4y agoWhat would be your guess? I'm reading this as describing straight line wing flight for long distances rapidly shifting to erratic motions if someone doesn't like it existing. I imagine it's much more efficient at that, assuming that shell is mostly batteries anyway. Very neat to watch, I'd be curious to hear under what conditions it's worse than a quadcopter, perhaps stability or how quick it can turn.
- chabons 4y agoWe're thinking along the same lines, I guess I just expected the upsides and downsides of the approach to be quantified somewhere in the research as context for why it's meaningful.
- yencabulator 4y ago> Very neat to watch, I'd be curious to hear under what conditions it's worse than a quadcopter, perhaps stability or how quick it can turn. Well, a quadcopter can fly with one busted motor/prop, this thing probably can't. Winged flight is definitely for superior distance and loiter times.
- jasonwatkinspdx 4y agoGood point on the redundancy. Another obvious drawback would be more surface to get buffeted by wind when in hover.
- fireant 4y agoThere could be price savings too, right? Two motors less and simpler ESC gotta save something.