Starting from September 2023, the team has spent the first year focusing on the concept selection and preliminary configuration of a hybrid UAV.
The UAV will exploit the best of both aviation worlds with the ability to take off and land vertically (like a quadcopter or a helicopter), while using lift generated by its wings to increase its efficiency and speed during forward flight (like a fixed wing plane). It’s propulsion system is chosen to be a set of 3 EDFs (Electrical Ducted Fans) which provide higher efficiency as compared to traditional rotors.
The current focus is to build a first working prototype. This will consist of multiple stages to ensure incremental development. Starting with a fixed wing plane, the team will test the airworthiness of the vehicle in forward flight. Next, a tri-copter arrangement will be tested to prove the UAV’s ability to hover. Lastly, these flight modes will be combined in one vehicle and the transition phase will be explored.