SBIR/STTR Award attributes
A field-reconfigurable eVTOL UAM vehicle is proposed, based on flight-proven designs. This vehicle can be configured by a unskilled or semi-skilled individuals into any mission-specific design from a kit of standardized parts by a 1- or 2-man team, using a visual assembly app. The missions can include short-or long-range cargo delivery, casualty evacuation, personnel insertion, long-endurance C4ISR, over-the-hill surveillance, etc. The vehicle assembly is designed to be plug-and-play: the app suggests a configuration based on the user-specified need, and provides a visual step-by-step assembly guide. As the parts are assembled, the vehicle's autopilot recognizes each part, and configures its flight management algorithms. No experience in aviation or engineering is required to assemble and operate the aircraft, enabling use of the vehicle by both military and civilian operators. The design is scalable for vehicles from 5 lb to 2000 lb MTOW. In Phase I, a detailed design for the key components will be completed, and key components will be fabricated. In Phase II, the full vehicle in a USAF-specified class will be built and flight tested.
