Overcoming limits set by space , Transwing drone can vertically take off and land (VTOL) with its wings folded like a helicopter and yet can expand its wings and fly like a fixed wing aircraft. So it is really compact on the ground for easy transport while having a huge wingspan in the sky.
US firm Pterodynamics has produced this unique drone. It had its sea trials onboard US Navy carrier USS Burlington recently, where it covered 111 km range before battery ran out.
Transwing that can fly autonomously has dihedral folding wings that give a lot of cargo capacity. It can shape shift between hover and cruise modes.
Sea trials demonstrated its ability to land on moving targets. This makes it really useful in number of operational situations.
Transwing eVTOL has switched to a fixed-wing configuration (evtol news)
How it works
On Dihedral hinges its wings fold from horizontal position to vertical position by tucking to its sides. Propellers too become vertically upward when folded in the “helicopter” mode.
The current model is X-P4, with a 13-foot (4-m) wingspan. It’s capable of carrying 6.8 kg of payload at a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of 38 kg , It has a speed of 185 km per hour. Its special use is the capability to land on moving targets such as back of a moving truck for example.
Military usage
Because of its great range US Navy is interested in Transwing as a ship to shore logistic platform. Participating in the US Navy demonstration Tim Whitehand, PteroDynamics VP of Engineering said “Event brought us closer to our goal of providing the U.S. Navy with a flexible and scalable shore-to-ship, ship-to-ship, and ship-to-shore automated cargo delivery capability”
In this way due significant payload and range of Transwing and its eVTOL structure, logistics operations that were otherwise performed by highly expensive helicopters using human pilots are now made easier and less expensive.
So in conclusion Transwing eVTOL autonomous drone can vertically take off and land, yet can fly like a fixed wing aircraft and can be used in a variety of naval logistical operations.
Featured Image Credits: newatlas.com
