Capabilities

Key Operational Capabilities Targeted

The Hammerhead VTUAV is being designed as an affordable portable platform capable of hosting different payloads.

Targeted towards the Small to Tactical UAV class requirements as well as Search and Rescue and aerial surveillance roles with the following specifications that unlike many other UAV’s provides niche spatial and velocity domain coverage.

• 0–90 kts
• 0–15000 ft

These specifications enable it to fulfil a multitude of roles and make it uniquely suited to operate in complex spatial environments such as the maritime domain and physical terrain incorporating the urban environment and jungle / mountainous terrain.

The VSTOL capability as well as the ability to perch and observe endow the aircraft with an unprecedented ability to provide persistent low level surveillance. The performance specifications also provide maximum flexibility, interoperability and utility across a wide spectrum of operations thus minimising resource requirements and burden on manpower.

Survivability of the platform is expected to be higher then conventional platforms due to the ability to land and takeoff in small areas and in close proximity to operators. The ability to fly low, land and conceal also increases survivability through denial of line of sight detection thus permitting penetration into dangerous environments and the ability to transition to fixed wing mode permits high dash speeds, climb rate and improved range.

The risk exposure to other airspace users, people and infrastructure on the ground or ships at sea is minimised through this spatial and velocity flexibility.

Targeted functions include the following with particular emphasis on complex physical terrains and the maritime environment:

• Data collection and intelligence gathering,
• Serch and rescue,
• Aerial video surveillance,
• Direct payload delivery to high threat or remote areas,
• Target detection, identification and tracking,
• Target designation,
• Environmental measurement and sampling,
• Communications node.

Operational Attributes

The Hammerhead has been designed to offer the following unique attributes:

• It can hover and fly fast in forward flight mode
• It can operate from confined spaces and unprepared areas,
• It requires no special launch or recovery systems (for land operations),
• It can land and takeoff conventionally or in STOL mode to maximise payload and range,
• It possess a better standoff capability then most other VTOL systems (better range),
• The control system and mechanics are simple and robust,
• It can ‘perch and observe’ (land and shutdown engines whilst still relaying data),
• Start and shutdown of motors is quick and reliable,
• Plug and play payloads and battery,
• Portable. Transport of the system is carefree and flexible (no fuel),
• Its safe “Better to stop then land than land and then stop”
• The plan form layout of the wing and canard helps protects the rotors in the event of rollover or object collision improving survivability and operator safety,
• Low noise, infra-red and radar signatures,
• Low vibration (Electric powered)

Control System

The flight control system offers control authority throughout the entire flight envelope and a offers a level of redundancy.

• Differential rpm for roll control in hover and this is directly coupled with the ailerons for hover and STOL modes.
• Pitch and yaw is controlled by a thrust vectoring nozzle at the aft of the vehicle and this can be directly coupled with the canard and rudder.
• Heave control is affected by main rotor rpm.
• The stub wing pivots to tilt the propellers.

Design Attributes

• Reliable propulsion system featuring low vibration electric motors and fixed pitch directly driven propellers (good for surveillance),
• Twin counter rotating rotors minimise pitch, roll and yaw cross coupling,
• Tilting stub wing assembly is robust and maximises hover efficiency,
• The canard provides benign stall characteristics and when coupled with the thrust vectoring nozzle helps limit pitch divergence and maximise the operational envelope,
• Low speed forward flight mode control effectiveness is improved by increased aileron authority due to prop wash over the wings and can be enhanced by pitch and yaw thrust vectoring,
• The gust response in hover is good since all conventional flying surfaces are horizontal,
• The layout of the twin rotors and fuselage provides beneficial ground effect characteristics,
• High absorption wide track main gear maximises wheel base stability.
• Large forward unobstructed fuselage volume for modular plug and play payload integration,
• High mounted fuselage air intake to minimise debris ingestion.
• Modularised structure,
• Ditching buoyancy

Above and Left: Hammerhead during hover handling qualities trials