VTOL UAV Research & Development

Our vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) UAVs are invaluable platforms for further developing our expertise and testing our VTOL technology. VTOL aircraft arguably are the most complex aerospace platforms ever conceived. VTOL electric aircraft certainly appear to be the future as long as battery energy storage continues to advance.

HAMMERHEAD VSTOL

Pursuing VSTOL capabilities

The unique Hammerhead VSTOL is tilt-rotor aircraft with 3D thrust vectoring and conventional control surfaces. It has demonstrated hover capabilities and, like the Harrier, has the capability to operate from confined spaces and fly at reasonably high speeds. The aircraft has differential collective and ailerons providing high roll bandwidth and rate response as well as good pitch authority due the combination of canard and pitch thrust vectoring.

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V-22 OSPREY

Control system development

The AVT V-22 UAV is used by our research and development team as a test bed for our flight control development program and handling qualities research. Fitted with an autopilot and modified control software, the platform has undertaken some 50 flights to evaluate stability, roll, pitch and yaw bandwidth as well max rate response in all axes.

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Services

Design & performance analysis

You have a concept, and perhaps a prototype, for your electric or hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft but are short on analytical tools to predict and optimize its performance. AVT offers independent, specialist technical services to assist  any stage of development, from preliminary design to flight test.

We can help you to refine your configuration, substantiate range and endurance estimates, assess stability & control characteristics (including transition), and advise on scalability issues. Whether you need an engineering simulation, combining high quality physics with high quality visualization, an instrumented test plan or just expert advice on tap, AVT has you covered.

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