Mon, Apr 15, 2019
Foldable Wing Structure Designed For Manned And Unmanned VTOL Aircraft
California-based PteroDynamics has developed a patented aircraft design it calls "Transwing" which folds and unfolds its wings during flight. The result is a transition between a multicopter and a regular fixed wing airplane and the company says it's unlike any aircraft design you have ever seen.
The result is that the PteroDesign aircraft are smaller and able to fly much further, faster, and longer, carrying heavier payloads using less energy than other VTOL aircraft, which is critical for everything from drone delivery to air taxis with extensive government/military applications as well, the company says. The concept is scalable for wingspans ranging from four to 34 feet and weighing between three and 75,000 pounds, according to information provided by the company.
According to the company website, the Transwing aircraft design has the highest performance metrics of any VTOL aircraft. Given any aircraft footprint size and payload requirements, Transwing aircraft will fly several times as far as any VTOL competitor.
Transwing aircraft combine the precision and flexibility of a multi-rotor aircraft with the efficiency and endurance of a fixed-wing platform. Transwing aircraft take off and land vertically, and transition seamlessly to a fixed-wing aircraft, making it an incredibly versatile tool for users that need the endurance and range of an airplane but the footprint of a helicopter.
The patented Transwing design can be scaled to meet mission requirements from tactical ISR to large payload delivery, making this an ideal platform for tactical and operational levels.
PteroDynamics says Transwing aircraft would be suitable for a variety of uses and customers, including:
- The Department of Defense
- The Department of Homeland Security
- Other Government Agencies
- First Responders
- Aerial Inspection
- Agriculture
- Drone Delivery
- Air Taxis
- Medevac
- Cargo Transport
The company received its U.S. Patent on April 9, 2019.
(Source: PteroDynamics. Images provided)
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