SPANA Bridged Flying Wing UAV
The maiden flight of this Proof Of Concept (POC) vehicle took place April 12, 2005. The vehicle is a flying wing, characterized by the aerodynamic bridge, that supports the engine.
LARV Cargo VTOL/CTOL UAV
(Lapcad Advanced Research Vehicle)
This is a VTOL aircraft, with hover capability, range and economics challenging helicopters as well as wing-borne aircrafts. The in-line mounted twin engine concept is designed for a high Thrust-to-Weight ratio, thus if one engine loses power during hover, it results in a survivable rate of descent. During wing-borne flight, one engine can be turned off for better fuel economy, without the need for drag-inducing re-trimming. There is no need for complicated load transfer from one engine to the other, since the twin engines are mounted in-line. By piggy-backing the nose rudder on the nose wheel steering, one or more actuators can be eliminated, resulting in weight and cost savings.
OPENER Rise and Stare VTOL Equipment Platform
The vehicle is an uncomplicated equivalent to a helicopter, but without the presence of dangerous wide-reaching blades. Its commercial application is as a platform for either still photography or live video, transmitted via wireless to a ground station receiver. In its simplest form, the receiver is connected to a television set, thereby allowing for live video of what the UAV sees at its elevated position. For the homeowner with a property located near an interesting scenery, but lacking direct view thereof, launching and stationing the Upponer UAV high enough, will provide the user with a spectacular view, of for example the unobstructed coastline.
FOOT (Fly Out Of Trouble)
The airborne capability and in particular the VTOL performance, is considered to be the most challenging aspect of this concept. By mounting the power unit centrally instead of distributed, duplicity in the form of complicated and heavy cross coupling has been avoided. The concept is designed for a high Thrust-to-Weight ratio during hover, thus if one engine fails, a safe descent is achievable with minimal damage. As the thrust setting of one engine is increased and the other decreased, a net torque is imposed on the aircraft causing it to yaw while hovering. During wing-borne flight, one engine can be turned off for better fuel economy, without the need for drag induced re-trimming. There is no need for complicated load transfer capability from a functional engine to a malfunctioning one, as is the case with engines mounted at the wing tips or other de-centralized locations. The road-able vehicle provides the kind of terrain independence needed during special kinds of missions.
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