Future Duster Looper joins the ranks of Avatar and Star Wars as a technically visionary film - however down to earth. The future of aerial application is robotic.

Future Duster

Looper joins the ranks of Avatar and Star Wars as a technically visionary film - however down to earth.

The future of aerial application is robotic.

Our gratitude to the people at Honda Motor Co. for including us among the innovators they like in their 2013 Honda Civic campaign. 

Our gratitude to the people at Honda Motor Co. for including us among the innovators they like in their 2013 Honda Civic campaign. 

Out & Up Shown just before first flight, the next-gen vehicle has taken to the air for check-out prior to final integration.

Out & Up

Shown just before first flight, the next-gen vehicle has taken to the air for check-out prior to final integration.

Two times a helicopter Piasecki’s -59 series aircraft proved a promising configuration that was never brought to fruition. By the early 1960’s evolved models attained speeds of 75 mph, had flown indoors, within trees and under bridges. “While the Airgeep would normally operate close to the ground, it was capable of flying to several thousand feet, proving to be stable in flight.” These vehicles demonstrated the viability of the tandem-duct platform. Unfortunately, the aircraft possessed the complex aero-mechanics of a helicopter - repeated twice. They utilized the same controls as a helicopter, requiring the same skills to fly, with the difficulty compounded by the intent of low altitude flight. “…the Army decided that the “Flying Jeep concept [was] unsuitable for the modern battlefield”, and concentrated on the development of conventional helicopters.” 

Two times a helicopter

Piasecki’s -59 series aircraft proved a promising configuration that was never brought to fruition.

By the early 1960’s evolved models attained speeds of 75 mph, had flown indoors, within trees and under bridges. “While the Airgeep would normally operate close to the ground, it was capable of flying to several thousand feet, proving to be stable in flight.” These vehicles demonstrated the viability of the tandem-duct platform.

Unfortunately, the aircraft possessed the complex aero-mechanics of a helicopter - repeated twice. They utilized the same controls as a helicopter, requiring the same skills to fly, with the difficulty compounded by the intent of low altitude flight. “…the Army decided that the “Flying Jeep concept [was] unsuitable for the modern battlefield”, and concentrated on the development of conventional helicopters.” 

Source: Wikipedia
Next Up Shortly out of the “hangar” is a more capable version of the test-bed vehicle. Among the many upgrades, the two most visible are the landing gear and MotoGP inspired pilot position. A much more capable vehicle, it has been set up specifically to develop three new flight technologies.

Next Up

Shortly out of the “hangar” is a more capable version of the test-bed vehicle. Among the many upgrades, the two most visible are the landing gear and MotoGP inspired pilot position.

A much more capable vehicle, it has been set up specifically to develop three new flight technologies.

Low Lap on a Lake Bed

On this last flight of the test-bed before rework, the favorable downwash of ducted fans is clearly visible. Dust and debris are pushed away from the pilot, even while flying close to the ground. 

The ducts prevent tip vortices from forming and isolate the fans from the external flow field. The latter quality permits unperturbed flight around obstacles and when transitioning indoors.

In contrast, the recirculating flow of open rotors has earned it a name, and the bane of pilots: “helicopter brownout” in the desert and “helicopter whiteout” in snow.

#aircraft#aviation#rotorcraft#flight#technology
Helicopter Brownout The result of recirculating flow around the tips of all open rotors, brownout applies to tilt-rotors as well.

Helicopter Brownout

The result of recirculating flow around the tips of all open rotors, brownout applies to tilt-rotors as well.

not actual sound

(November 2011)

#flight#technology

Expanding the Envelope

Or pilot training?

The symbiotic relationship between vehicle and rider is similar to a bicycle - each dependent on one another for controlled, stable flight.

The benefit is simplicity; no artificial stabilization or software, and the pilot feels naturally in command with little prior training.

(November 2011)

#flight#technology
Thrust Augmentation and Control of a Ducted-Fan VTOL Air-Vehicle Presented at the Future Vertical Lift Conference in January of this year, the technical paper explaining the aerodynamic control of the vehicle has been released by the American Helicopter Society. A description of the presentation and video is provided at the link below.

Thrust Augmentation and Control of a Ducted-Fan VTOL Air-Vehicle

Presented at the Future Vertical Lift Conference in January of this year, the technical paper explaining the aerodynamic control of the vehicle has been released by the American Helicopter Society.

A description of the presentation and video is provided at the link below.

Source: aerofex.com
#aircraft#flight#technology

Un-Coupled

Control coupling occurs when a maneuver about one axis is joined by an unwanted rotation about another. An airplane with too much dihedral will roll when commanded to yaw. A helicopter will yaw when pulling collective.

“High-pilot workload” is the euphemism used to describe an aircraft whose control coupling is particularly onerous.

The control system on the test-bed minimizes coupling. A command to pitch nose-up does not induce roll or yaw. No bucking, no spinning. Not very challenging.

(October 2011)

#flying#technology
Aerial Mustering 10 feet altitude - same costs as below, but for this use the machines are less capable. Despite additional training, the treacherous flying can exceed the structural limits of a helicopter. Each year ten pilots die in mustering crashes. 

Aerial Mustering

10 feet altitude - same costs as below, but for this use the machines are less capable.

Despite additional training, the treacherous flying can exceed the structural limits of a helicopter. Each year ten pilots die in mustering crashes. 

Straight Forward

The pilot cruises in the direction he wishes to go with little conscious input or training. The vehicle takes cues from his intuitive movements and amplifies them aerodynamically to maintain his level flight path. By applying throttle, he can increase altitude and speed.

Pretty straight forward.

(October 2011)

#aircraft#flight#technology
Practical Uses of Expensive Aircraft Field Drying. 5 foot altitude; 30 gallons of fuel burned, $630/hr operating cost - excluding pilot and profit. Per helicopter. (These machines are capable of 150 mph with 5 people and rooftop landings) Must be important games.

Practical Uses of Expensive Aircraft

Field Drying. 5 foot altitude; 30 gallons of fuel burned, $630/hr operating cost - excluding pilot and profit. Per helicopter.

(These machines are capable of 150 mph with 5 people and rooftop landings)

Must be important games.

#aircraft#technology

Take-off Torque

Application of power induces torque about the drive axis which must be countered for a flat take-off in any powered lift aircraft. Control surfaces or vanes, although simple, are not effective in countering power-induced torque, unless it is in yaw (rarely the case). This is particularly true when close to the ground - which, coincidentally, is where most take-offs originate.

(October 2011)