Quadrotor Helicopters

Perhaps the company should not be lauded for "inventing" the technology, but rather for bringing it to possible fruition for the common market. After all, this technology has probably been in use by top secret gov't agencies for years, giving rise to many UFO sightings.

This particular setup could be construed as contra-rotating Voith props. Now if they would just develop this into furthering paddlewheel technology, then we'd be talking...

So, am I the only one drawing a parallel to Daedalus of Greek mythology? Of course, he was the genius inventor/innovator who devised a set of wings for himself and his son Icarus to escape King Minos. However, it seems many of his clever inventions ultimately lead to much bigger issues in the end.

 

No, they speak to this on one of the video presentations if I remember correctly.

 

Thanks for those historical links, but this aircraft is not really making use of the rotating cylinder forces as much as it is rotating aero blades...
....more like this FanWing you brought up...

Appears that its lifting capabilities made be very good. And likely it will not have near as many problems as the V 22 Osprey aircraft

Yes I made that connection on another forum where I made this posting about D-Dalus

 

Osprey

In Afghanistan, the Osprey has had a much higher mission available rate than conventional rotorcraft.

 

The Cinestar 8 (8 rotors) is available in a kit version for about US$8K.

It can fly up to a 1500 feet ceiling. It can be programmed to automatically fly a course around waypoints, and then return.

Very cool tech, for little dollars.


http://www.g4tv.com/videos/58627/the-cinestar-8-octocopter-demo-in-studio/

 

The point I was making was that this is neither new, novel, or particularly effective technology (and I speak as an ex-aircraft designer). The advertising BS re: this device really gets up my nose, if I'm honest, not least because it's untruthful. It works, for sure, but is grossly inefficient, and is only really of use over a limited range of applications (in much the same way as Voith Schneider props).

There is a pressing need (at the moment) for autonomous devices that can carry out surveillance in restricted areas, for which this device happens to be reasonably well suited, by virtue of the robustness of the buried rotors. It isn't well suited for general aviation in any way, shape or form, because its efficiency (in terms of converting power into lift/propulsion) is very poor, worse even than a quad rotor. It actually makes a helicopter look efficient.

 

Wow!! Nice job of realizing some old ideas with new materials and control technologies. I want one of the next generation to park in my driveway, fly to the mall for a Latte', etc.
Here's a $300 toy that is amazing. Fly it with your iPhone or Android, automatic stabilization, 2 cameras built in that can stream to your device, etc. Darn, not big enough to lift me....
http://ardrone2.parrot.com/
And a very efficient and stable new idea for a small 5-place airplane design with a 'folded' wing, giving bi-plane lift but teardrop aerodynamics, so uses very little fuel, cruises fast and lands slow.
Designer has a working model and it flies very well.
http://psipunk.com/synergy-diesel-airplane/

 

Synergy just bought some time at KickStarter. There really should be a dedicated 'Marine' category over there -- a lot of people on this forum would do well.

 

I've seen the fan wing before, but the historic stuff is new to me, and so is this Austrian D-Dalus.

Thanks for posting these sort of things, its cool.

 

Oh, OK. I didn't watch the videos. I just thought they should've come up with a more confidence-inspiring name.

 

Couple more'box wing' jets:
http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2012-04/jets-future

This Lockheed one is claimed to be quite fuel efficient.

 

Interesting claims all over that site.

 

Dident they used to call them biplanes ?

 

It doesn't look to be the same thing at all. Please help me with this, as your approach is somewhat less than filled out as a set of describing points.

 

not sure there are any.