We envision a class of miniature robotic aircraft dubbed Flexrotors which offer range, endurance, and economy at levels associated with wing-borne flight, together with capability for hover and VTOL. Such aircraft would use low-disc-loading rotors which must operate efficiently from zero advance ratio in thrust-borne flight, with rotor axis vertical, to high advance ratio in wing-borne cruise, with rotor axis horizontal. Our proposed Phase I work would advance structural and aerodynamic development of the necessary rotor blades, including wind-tunnel testing. Phase II would include demonstration of long range and endurance with a Flexrotor aircraft.
Benefit: Miniature VTOL aircraft promise substantially to reduce acquisition and deployment costs for robotic-aircraft systems, while offering unprecedented capability. Consequently they may well make robotic aircraft competitive in multiple new applications for which current designs are uneconomic. Commercial possibilities include ship-based imaging reconnaissance, geomagnetic survey, weather reconnaissance, and atmospheric research.
Keywords: Tiltrotor, Tiltrotor, OAV, robotic aircraft, MAV, Flexrotor, UAV
