News about cyclogyros
 

A small robotic aircraft powered by rotating "paddle-wheel" wings could yet rule the skies, if renewed interest in an antique design bears fruit.
Several international research groups are working on prototype "cyclogyros", a design first proposed more than 100 years ago.

A cyclogyro flies using "cycloidal propellers" – several wings positioned around the edge of a rotating cylindrical framework, a bit like a paddle-wheel. As each wing rotates, its blades move through the air generating lift and thrust.

Link to the Youtube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmMChKqjwBQ

Link to the article in NewScientist:
http://technology.newscientist.com/c...ine-news_rss20

More about the cyclogyro:
http://serve.me.nus.edu.sg/cyclocopter/

RD

Actually, this concept has done very well in marine applications requiring very compact power handling and manouvreability:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voith-Schneider
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...-VSPsurtug.jpg
But marine applications are not so weight critical as a VTOL aircraft, and even so most vessels still use propellors.

For helicopter application the problem always comes down to achieving the lowest disk loading that can be achieved for a given performance envelope. This system will ingest air over at best an ellipse, which for a given size and weight will never beat a helicopter ingesting air over a disk.

That said, hats off to these guys for making the effort, and making a little bit of transport history come true. :ok:

It's all been done before, more than a half-century ago.
 

You can read all about it, here:

http://www.tomswift.info/homepage/cyplane.html

http://www.unicopter.com/temporary/cyclogiro.jpg



... and for some newer stuff;

A New VTOL UAV Cyclocopter with Cycloidal Blades System

US Patent 6,932,296 August 23, 2005

The real benefit with this system is that pilots can earn a buck low level crop-harvesting. :}

I enjoy these sorts of ideas, but it all looks very complex. There is an old cine-film somewhere of a piloted cycloidal wing machine thrashing itself to bits...