The idea is a static body VTOL design that can hover stable in the air, and also go at high speeds very efficiently with wings. Could modify dimensions as needed, but general idea, I’m unsure if there’s a major design issue?

  • Zonetrooper@lemmy.world
    8·
    3 days ago

    I’m pretty sure I’ve seen small (i.e., handheld-sized) commercial UAVs that fly like this. But as others have pointed out, at any realistic size you start to run into a lot of problems:

    • The VTOL rotors will create massive drag when they’re not in use. There’s a reason virtually every aircraft with embedded VTOL jets engineered ways to cover them up during level flight. This cascades into a whole bevy of complexity issues.
    • When you’re not using them, you’re lugging around 3 out of your 4 rotors for no reason.
    • You’re also sacrificing a lot of internal volume for your lift fans. This isn’t so much a problem in small UAVs, again, but it’s not great if you were hoping to use that capacity for fuel or cargo.

    So yeah, like others said as well - now that we have tailsitter drones of moderate size, there’s not really a use for this layout.

    • OwOarchist@pawb.socialEnglish
      3·
      3 days ago

      There’s a reason virtually every aircraft with embedded VTOL jets engineered ways to cover them up during level flight.

      Or ways to pivot them to horizontal and use them for forward thrust…

      But, honestly, I think ones like OP’s could work relatively well if you engineered the hell out of the aerodynamics and made sure that the openings would be inside slipstream ‘shadows’ and not exposed to much airflow while in forward motion. That could only be well-optimized for one airspeed, though, so it wouldn’t be practical for an aircraft that wants to fly at different speeds a lot. But for one intended to always cruise at a set speed, I think it could work.

      Other criticisms are still totally valid, though.