CycloTech Compound Helicopter (concept design)

Compound Helicopter (concept design)
CycloTech GmbH
Linz, Austria
www.cyclotech.at

CycloTech GmbH was founded in 2004 in Austria (originally as IAT 21) and has been to date, actively pursuing research and development, manufacturing and testing their CycloRotor technology. The company's core business is the development and optimization of CycloRotors for the propulsion of hybrid-electric vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) or electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) passenger and air cargo aircraft for advanced air mobility (AAM). According to one website, the company has as least six patents as of October 2023. While the company has already has had investments from Breeze Invest, the company is seeking more financial investors. The company is the leading developer of cyclogyro technology. (Image credit: CycloTech)

CycloRotor
The CycloRotor is a series of propeller blades mounted on both ends to rotating disks, forming what could be called a bladed cylinder. The unique ability of the blades is they are similar to how most helicopter rotorblades work, each propeller can continuously change its angle or pitch. The blades will tilt gradually into the wind and as they reach a certain point in their rotation, they will gradually tilt back to flat as they pass the peak point. The core of the drive concept was established by Ernst Schneider and the Voith GmbH technology group nearly 100 years ago, and patented as the Voith Schneider Propeller (VSP).

When CycloRotors are placed perpendicularly and vertically to the fuselage of an aircraft, the CycloRotors enable high-precision flight in all directions (or superior maneuverability) as well as mid-air braking even in gusty wind conditions. This means the aircraft has has 360° thrust vectoring capability. The means the aircraft now has the ability to instantaneously and precisely move the aircraft in any direction. This ability allows for an easy and smooth transition from VTOL to forward flight. It is possible to keep the aircraft fuselage at any angle, independent from the flight direction. This is called decoupling of the flight path and the vehicle attitude. The propulsion system is ideal for safe operation in crowed airspace and confined areas. This is all accomplished without tilting or banking the aircraft. When there are six CycloRotors on an aircraft, they provide a high level of redundancy, allowing to pilot to fly and land safely, even if one or two CycloRotors fail to work.

Benefits of CycloRotors

• The aircraft has 360° thrust vectoring capability. The means the aircraft has the ability to instantaneously and precisely move the aircraft in any direction.
• Superior maneuverability in any wind condition including gusty wind conditions
• Easy transition from VTOL to forward flight and back
• It is possible to keep the aircraft fuselage at any angle, independent from the flight direction.
• Allows the aircraft to have a small footprint
• The VTOL aircraft can fly in confined areas
• Provides a comfortable ride for the pilot and passengers because the CycloRotors can maneuver the fuselage in any position while in flight
• CycloRotors are very reliable and have a long service life
• CycloRotor technology reduces the cost of the aircraft and maintenance costs

Compound Helicopter passenger with a multiple power source concept design rotorcraft
CycloTech's Compound Helicopter is passenger concept design rotorcraft that accepts multiple power sources. This is a light helicopter and can could probably hold from two to four passengers. It is unknown if the rotorcraft has been designed to be flown by a pilot or if it is an autonomous helicopter. However, most all-electric VTOL aircraft today have an option or will have the option to be flown by automatic pilot or by artificial intelligence.

The helicopter has one main rotoblade (with five rotorblades) and has two antitorque CycloRotors that are laterally placed on the fuselage just behind the cockpit. The concept design helicopter has been made to accept multiple power sources. The use of the CycloRotors to counter torque from the main rotorblade allows the helicopter to have no tail rotor. The rotorcraft has a typical helicopter tail boom design with a rear horizontal stabilizer. At the ends of the horizontal stabilizer are two vertical stabilizers.

If the aircraft was all electric there could be from three to six electric motors on the aircraft. Some electric helicopter use multiple electric motors for safety through redundancy. There is also a full window that allows for left, right, front and top spectacular views for the passengers and pilot. The aircraft has fixed skid landing gear. In the event of a power loss, the helicopter has the ability to autorotate and land safely on the ground.

Specifications:

• Aircraft type: Passenger multi-power source compound helicopter concept design rotorcraft
• Piloting: Unknown
• Capacity: Unknown
• Cruise speed: Unknown
• Rotor: 1 main rotorblade (5 rotorblades)
• Antitorque rotors: 2  CycloRotors
• Tail: Has a typical helicopter-type tail boom with a rear horizontal stabilizer. At the ends of the horizontal stabilizer are 2 vertical stabilizers. The tail boom has no rotorblades.
• Electric Motors: 3 or more electric motors
• Power source: Gasoline powered VTOL, hybrid-electric VTOL or all-electric rotorcraft (or an eVTOL helicopter)
• Fuselage: Carbon fiber composite
• Windows: Large panoramic windows allowing left, right, front and top spectacular views for the passengers
• Landing gear: Fixed skid landing gear
• Safety feature: In the event of a power loss, the helicopter has the ability to autorotate and land safely on the ground

Related Aircraft:

• CycloTech Air Taxi V1 (concept design)
• CycloTech Air Taxi V2 (concept design)
• CycloTech Bumblebee (technology demonstrator)
• CycloTech CCY-01 (concept design)
• CycloTech CruiseUp (concept design)
• CycloTech D-Dalus (concept design)
• CycloTech UAV Demonstrator (concept design)

Company Insights:

• Airframer
• Crunchbase
• Dun & Bradstreet
• North Data
• Pitchbook
• Tracxn

Resources:

• CycloTech website 
• CycloTech Twitter
• CycloTech YouTube Channel
• CycloTech LinkedIn
• Cyclogyro Wikipedia
• Cyclorotor Wikipedia
• Voith Schneider Propeller Wikipedia
• Video: Cyclotech | Gyclogyro Principle, Vimeo, Jan. 2020
• Video: CycloTech | CycloRotor / Cyclogyro Principle, CycloTech GmbH, Jan. 23, 2020
• US Patent: Compound helicopter using CycloRotors, Free Patents Online, Jan. 24, 2019
• Article: CycloTech plots development course for its Cyclogyro rotor technology, Vertical Magazine, Sept. 25, 2020