In order to resist gusts, most UAVs use tilting mode in flight. However, thanks to the innovative use of rotorcraft, pitch aero's Astria UAV can ensure horizontal and stable flight, which opens up a series of use cases that other UAVs cannot handle
Rotorcraft, also known as Voith Schneider propellers, propels air just as a propeller steam engine propels water. Each propeller is a rotating barrel, and the blades on both sides can change their spacing very quickly, almost immediately transmitting thrust within 360 degrees.
Cyclotech, Yamato, the Russian foundation for advanced research and other teams are promoting the commercialization and militarization of rotorcraft, making it the only propulsion system for electric and hybrid VTOL aircraft. Their unique design and near instantaneous thrust vectoring capabilities provide some advantages that standard propellers, tilt rotor aircraft and other solutions cannot provide.
Pitch aeronautics of Boise, Idaho, has installed a rotorcraft on its Astria UAV, providing it with a set of close range and touch based capabilities unmatched by anything else we have seen. Astria, named after the Greek goddess of precision, is a relatively large UAV, but it can be completely folded and transported. Its central beam may be 10 feet (3 meters) long, and it rises into the air through six twin bladed propellers mounted on a pole.
One end of the main beam is a battery pack, and the other end can be inserted with various tools, sensors, mechanical arms and other payloads, weighing 5 to 10 pounds (2.25 to 4.5 kg). The battery pack balances this load, so your payload is in front of the propeller, facing the target you are working on.
When other UAVs need to tilt to balance their own gusts or achieve horizontal movement, Astria maintains a supernatural stillness and level in the air. The top rotorcraft undertakes all the horizontal thrust tasks and is rotating all the time. It just changes the blade spacing to adjust the thrust when necessary, as described in the following video.
Pitch said that compared with a typical multi rotor aircraft, its stability correction and horizontal position adjustment are 5 to 10 times faster, because the tilt UAV is longer than simply changing the blade spacing of the rotor aircraft.
This gives Astria the ability to place its payload at very close range targets, with extraordinary accuracy and stability, and even reach targets when necessary. The company said Astria can now take over a series of high-precision industrial inspection and maintenance tasks, which usually require workers to place themselves in extremely dangerous rope positions.