The future of the helicopter is electric.
Maiden flight of the e-volo project:
Revolutionary green helicopter makes maiden flight | Vertical Magazine - The Pulse of the Helicopter Industry
skadi
Revolutionary green helicopter makes maiden flight | Vertical Magazine - The Pulse of the Helicopter Industry
skadi
Join Date: May 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Looks like things have progressed - first manned flight!!
The first manned flight of the Volocopter has just taken place. D-MYVC can be seen in this video piloted by the CEO of Volocopter:
Fascinating - will be interested to read the views of all the aero engineers out there as to the future prospects of this. Good video.
2Sticks
Fascinating - will be interested to read the views of all the aero engineers out there as to the future prospects of this. Good video.
2Sticks
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Lost and Legless somewhere in LaLaLand
Age: 77
Posts: 481
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
An interesting video. However, I think it still only has a 20 minute endurance and a 55 kt cruise speed so there's a long way to go before it has much commercial use as a manned vehicle concept.
The company states that it will still fly in the event that a number of rotors fail, but the number isn't stated, although they do also say that it's fitted with a parachute.
The company states that it will still fly in the event that a number of rotors fail, but the number isn't stated, although they do also say that it's fitted with a parachute.
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: 1 Dunghill Mansions, Putney
Posts: 1,797
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Reminds me of another 'distributed lift' project from a few years back, which had some interesting potential (and which could have sent tinfoil prices skyrocketing). Never saw a single mention of it in the press, but a conceptual image does exist on the web:
I/C
I/C
It looks like a single sidestick to control 4 axes - pitch, roll, yaw and vertical (collective).
Be interesting to see if the average joe can get a pure yaw or vertical movement without the natural movement of the hand and wrist bringing in some cross-coupling, with unwanted roll/pitch/whatever.
But this fella seems to do OK and even lets the stick go.
Be interesting to see if the average joe can get a pure yaw or vertical movement without the natural movement of the hand and wrist bringing in some cross-coupling, with unwanted roll/pitch/whatever.
But this fella seems to do OK and even lets the stick go.
The use of Tethered uav and drones is being explored and results so far are encouraging. Power goes up the wire so fewer batteries needed.
I see a can of regulatory worms labeled manned, powered, tethered flight
Another can of worms, do regs cover a commercial, fare paying passenger flight, which is controlled via tether by pilot on the ground?
Enormous redundancy can be built in at a minimal penalty...
Mickjoebill
I see a can of regulatory worms labeled manned, powered, tethered flight
Another can of worms, do regs cover a commercial, fare paying passenger flight, which is controlled via tether by pilot on the ground?
Enormous redundancy can be built in at a minimal penalty...
Mickjoebill
Last edited by mickjoebill; 10th Apr 2016 at 07:42.
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Manitoba Canada
Age: 72
Posts: 223
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
.
Arthur Young was doing this stuff in the 1930's https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur...r_M._Young.jpg
Arthur Young was doing this stuff in the 1930's https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur...r_M._Young.jpg
That is actually pretty impressive really. What is the power source, batteries I know, but how many, type, endurance etc?
He looked pretty relaxed stooging around at lethal levels on the first flight in an experimental aircraft.
Well done.
He looked pretty relaxed stooging around at lethal levels on the first flight in an experimental aircraft.
Well done.
Ever since the idea of electrical power for cars became a serious proposition rather than speculation one thing keeps occurring to me and I think it may be relevant to the discussion here. Interchangeable modular batteries. The practicality of recharging associated with cars has always looked like a show-stopper to me. It's difficult enough to find anywhere to park, let alone with a recharging socket conveniently available. However the infrastructure for refuelling with petrol is ubiquitous. It's obviously a gross simplification but modular rechargable batteries which can be rapidly swapped would eliminate the problem to some extent. Of course getting agreement amongst manufacturers - whether of car or aircraft - for a common modular battery format is likely to be all but impossible.
skridlov: The idea exists since exactly 120 years now and was in service between 1910 and 1924 called GeVeCo. The biggest modern battery-swapping project Better Place went bankrupt in 2013. They erected 21 robotic swapping stations in Israel and 17 in Denmark.
Apparently Tesla Model S is also capable of battery swapping but only one swapping station was built and Tesla seems to have abandoned the project due to low demand and high costs compared to regular fast-charging.
For helicopters I think with today's battery technology, the way to go is gas turbine generated electricity. Buffer battery for peak loads / takeoff power. 5 minutes purely electric flying ability for emergency landing in case of engine failure.
Apparently Tesla Model S is also capable of battery swapping but only one swapping station was built and Tesla seems to have abandoned the project due to low demand and high costs compared to regular fast-charging.
For helicopters I think with today's battery technology, the way to go is gas turbine generated electricity. Buffer battery for peak loads / takeoff power. 5 minutes purely electric flying ability for emergency landing in case of engine failure.
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: USA
Posts: 601
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
....I think with today's battery technology, the way to go is gas turbine generated electricity.....
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: 1 Dunghill Mansions, Putney
Posts: 1,797
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
A few years ago EADS was touting eCO2avia, a diesel-electric solution with two OPOC diesels charging two batteries via electric generators, and with electric motors driving the rotors. The concept, which was previously mentioned in the 'Electric Sikorsky' thread, had the potential to free designers from the traditional layout constraints of mechanical transmission helicopters:
The concept went 'quiet' shortly after its unveiling, though interestingly Airbus and Siemens just signed an agreement to cooperate on the field of hybrid electric propulsion systems.
I/C
The hybrid system architecture allows the main rotor and its electrical drive to be tilted forward during cruise flight. This enables the helicopter’s fuselage to remain at its optimum alignment with the airstream, minimizing aerodynamic drag and thereby reducing the power demand and the fuel consumption. Since the tail rotor has no mechanical linkage to the main rotor and its power source, it can be turned off at higher speeds. During these flight phases, stability and control as well as balancing of the rotor torque are provided by the aerodynamic properties of the helicopter’s tail fin and rudder. [Source]
I/C
Since the tail rotor has no mechanical linkage to the main rotor and its power source, it can be turned off at higher speeds.
Love the dreamer's pic of the Identified Flying Object "Landing in the streets" - no cars visible anywhere, the Object floating down between palm-lined footpaths, and hasn't yet deployed the landing struts at 10'agl.
That Object also needs special ground steps and boards to allow people to access the cabin - where will they be kept? Nice little cgi bit of mental m@stur... well, you get the idea.
That Object also needs special ground steps and boards to allow people to access the cabin - where will they be kept? Nice little cgi bit of mental m@stur... well, you get the idea.
A. Charlie: it appears to need two or three parking spots as compared to, say, a Fiat 500.
But you wouldn't park your Bambino on a pedestrian crossing, beside a "no parking" yellow line. But it's OK, no cop cars in sight.
That parachute might reduce their terminal velocity from 120kt to maybe 115.
That parachute might reduce their terminal velocity from 120kt to maybe 115.
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: UK
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Electrical powered helicopters - such as R44
What's the likely hood of electrically powered helicopters becoming a reality for GA and Commercial operations?
I see from this article that 'Tier 1 Engineering' is making some inroads https://www.tier1engineering.com/news/093016
I see from this article that 'Tier 1 Engineering' is making some inroads https://www.tier1engineering.com/news/093016