Been cool to see this DARPA challenge, but nobody has built the optimal architecture?
Let me explain.
The literature is pretty clear for a lifter, maximum rotor area and minimal mass.
So you have a big single rotor, you eliminate all torque by using a jet tip design with tip nozzles and embedded tubes inside carbon fibre blades.
White = structure (carbon fibre)
Yellow = compressed air
Purple = swivel joint
Blue = fuel tank
Red = gas turbine + turbo compressor
There is no main torque shaft here, the lift rotor just spins on a swivel rotary union and the tank, compressor, controls and trim/balance arms that set the azimuth and steer all sit below the hub.
The payload is just suspended below.
The contest demands 4:1 lift ratio and the leaderboard is around 3.8:1
The architecture below realistically does 6:1, so room for cutting costs and making practical decisions. But I can find all the drive pieces are off the shelf for <$2k.
Where is the jet tip single rotor, with suspended turbo compressor?
Why are people using batteries?
🤔
Hunter Weiss (@Hunter_Weiss)
Bad weather ended the DARPA lift challenge early today before a lot of teams could fly
The current 1/2/3 leaderboard
— https://nitter.net/Hunter_Weiss/status/2085834251044360489#m