Micro Craft Developing UAV
Source: Micro Craft
Micro Craft has always been known for its innovative
problem-solving skills and ability to develop solutions to the
problems of its customers. Now they have focused their innovation on
advancing the technologies required to implement a low-cost,
scaleable, vertical take-off unmanned air vehicle (UAV) system. The
Micro Craft UAV solution is a unique, ducted-fan concept specifically
addressing the growing need for agile, simple-to-operate and
smaller-scale, low-cost UAV systems.
Micro Craft’s UAV takes off and lands vertically,
similar to a helicopter, but flies horizontally (cruise, loiter, dash)
by pitching over and developing lift from the circular duct and
optional wing. Thus the UAV takes advantage of the propulsive
efficiency of the ducted fan for take-off and landing and the
aerodynamic efficiency of the wing during cruise. Ducted fans can
provide approximately 30% more thrust than conventional open
propellers. These benefits translate into large payloads, long range,
and high cruise speeds. An optional wing is fabricated from composite
materials with an aluminum spar and folds to maintain a small
footprint in the stowed configuration. Prior to flight, the ground
crew member simply unfolds the wing and pins it in position. The wing
adds minimal weight but improves the vehicle performance significantly
at loiter conditions. Also, the wing houses additional fuel reserves.
The work is being completed at Micro Craft’s San Diego
and Ontario facilities where Dr. Allen Zwan, Micro Craft’s UAV Program
Manager, leads a cross-functional team responding to opportunities in
both the U.S. and Canada. "The interest in our VTOL UAV concept has
been tremendous," says Dr. Zwan. "The need for battlefield
intelligence, real-time imagery, and tactical support has never been
greater as it seems all the services require up-to-the-minute
situational information."
The Micro Craft air vehicle system has potential
tactical mission roles for the Navy, Marines, Army, Coast Guard, and
Border Patrol, as well as many commercial applications. Funded through
a combination of internal and contracted research and development,
Micro Craft is developing flight vehicles ranging in size from 6 in.
(weighing 4 lbs. including a payload) to 5 ft. in diameter (weighing
almost 800 lbs.).
In late 1999, Micro Craft was awarded a contract to
develop a Micro version of its ducted fan as part of the DARPA Micro
Air Vehicle (MAV) program. Micro Craft is teamed with Draper Lab, who
will provide micro-avionics and a ground station. A flight
demonstration is planned in the Fall of 2000. Micro Craft’s "Small"
Lift Augmented Ducted Fan Air Vehicle (SLADF) has many advantages as a
small UAV. The vehicle system can be designed to suit a number of
performance requirements and is highly scaleable. The shroud (duct)
provides unparalleled ground crew safety when contrasted to
conventional open rotor designs. The small size of the SLADF permits
operation aboard ships, on the ground, in urban areas, or in forested
or other confined areas typical of tactical situations while enhancing
survivability during flight. With a small footprint for both flight
operations and stowage, valuable launch space is also optimized.
Micro Craft is truly excited about the future of this
vehicle concept, especially for the smaller, unit-based system
requirements. With the development of micro-electronics for guidance
and navigation avionics, and miniature Electro-Optical and Infra-Red
(EO-IR) payloads, the opportunity to acquire important intelligence
information in small, relatively inexpensive packages has never been
better.
http://www.microcraft.com/UAV01.htm