The high seas and UAVs go together like -- well, they go together very well. The Navy's cooking up 3D laser imaging technology for spotting pirates and so on, nevertheless it will need some aircraft for the duty. Right on cue, a helicopter / airplane hybrid for maritime surveillance is inching toward reality. Aerovel's Flexrotor, an ultra-compact craft with a wing span of 3 meters (9.8 feet) and a weight of just 19.2 kg (42.3 lb), has already been demonstrated to interchange between horizontal and vertical flight, however the next step is enhancing its propulsion system to enhance its performance for longer distances and in windier conditions. Today the Office of Naval Research (ONR) awarded the corporate a freelance for developing that tech. For now, you are able to look at a video of the Flexrotor's first test flight, which demoes the UAV transitioning from vertical and horizontal orientation and back again.
Get Your Rotor Runnin': ONR-sponsored Flexrotor Program Takes to the air for Next Phase
ARLINGTON, Va.-Part helicopter, part airplane, the Office of Naval
Research (ONR)-sponsored Flexrotor vertical takeoff and landing
unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) enters the subsequent development phase April
30 in delivering improved maritime surveillance capability.
The contract awarded today is for the flight controls component.
In this phase, Aerovel Corp. will advance Flexrotor's capability
with an upgraded propulsion system to transition from vertical to
cruising flight and to land in crosswinds and high winds. The
aircraft's first major milestone was in August 2011, when it
successfully transitioned from horizontal to vertical flight and back
again.
The small UAV incorporates a unique design. It has a large propeller
with helicopter-like controls for vertical takeoff and landing and the
wings of a traditional aircraft. The goal is that it'll take off
vertically, cruise efficiently horizontally after which land vertically.
"With Flexrotor, both biggest benefits to Sailors and Marines would
be the flexibility to do extended maritime surveillance from a boat, and
to take action with a small footprint," said John Kinzer, ONR program
officer for Air Vehicle Technology.
Taking over below one-half the gap needed by other UAVs, Flexrotor
would give Sailors compact, ship-launched, eye-in-the-sky capability.
Additionally, it could possibly stay airborne for an extended time period.
Thus, Flexrotor could help meet the Navy's perpetual need for more and
better maritime surveillance.
A vertical takeoff/landing craft requires a fancy propulsion and
flight control system. The propeller has to be large enough to provide
sufficient lift to take off vertically, yet sufficiently small to be
efficient while in horizontal flight. The flight controls must provide
powerful and precise control in vertical takeoffs and landings and
efficient, low-drag control in forward flight. Perfecting both the
rotor and other flight capabilities requires a relentless balancing act
among power, efficiency and weight, and that is what Tadd McGeer,
Flexrotor's inventor, is operating out during phase II.
Since test flights thus far have occurred with light winds, Aerovel
will begin testing in windy conditions, gradually increasing the
aircraft's operating envelope.
Another aspect of this system, sponsored by the Naval Air Warfare
Center Aircraft Division, is to develop an autonomous servicing
capability. Aerovel is creating an automated Servicing Platform that
would function launch and landing pad, in addition to maintenance bay.
This will be useful when deploying the Flexrotor to remote areas, as
the aircraft could use this all-in-one hub without having human
assistance.
The platform can be beneficial for a distinct operations application
of remotely siting a UAV. "[The special ops personnel] just like the idea
of not exposing where they're after they wish to launch and recover
one," Kinzer said. "They can put it on a mountaintop somewhere and
just leave it to do surveillance." There also are potential
applications to Arctic surveillance and weather reporting for the Navy
and other organizations, reminiscent of National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration.
From WhatNewsToday.net
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