AutoFlight V1000 (prototype)
(Image credit: AutoFlight)
V1000 (prototype)
AutoFlight
Shanghai, China
www.autoflight.com
Mr. Tian Yu founded AutoFlight in 2016 and is headquartered in Shanghai, China. AutoFlight is an aviation technology company specialized in the research and development of autonomous flight and electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) technology and aircraft manufacturing. AutoFlight has set up research and development facilities in Munich, Germany and in Shenzhen, China, and have several manufacturing facilities across China. Mr. Tian Yu is also the founder of Yuneec, the predecessor of AutoFlight, which was a world leader in consumer drones and the manufacturer of the e-Spyder single-seat electric ultralight and E430 two-seat electric ultralight which first flew in June 2009.
Safety and reliability is a top priority for AutoFlight and is applying interdisciplinary technologies to their aviation products including new materials, artificial intelligence, autonomous technology, sense and avoid in the air technology, multi-redundant flight control system, microelectronics, 4G and 5G telecommunication for multi-channel communication, ground radar assisted remote takeoff and landing function and many other technologies.
V1000 heavy-lift air cargo eVTOL prototype aircraft
The AutoFlight V1000 is an autonomous heavy-lift long-range eVTOL air cargo prototype aircraft and is the largest cargo drone the company has made to date; however, very little has been announced about this aircraft. The aircraft has a sleek modern design and with a front canard wing and a rear high main wing with winglets. The cargo pod is detachable.
The aircraft has eight dedicated VTOL propellers, one pusher propeller and is powered by battery packs. In the picture above, the back of the aircraft is cut off and there are two VTOL propellers located on the top of two rear downward facing vertical stabilizers. Two booms parallel to the fuselage hold the VTOL propellers. The fuselage and wings are made from carbon fiber composite for a high strength to low weight ratio. For landing gear, the aircraft has two front legs (or struts) and has two fixed rear tail wheels in the vertical stabilizers. When in flight, the two front legs retract into the two booms.
This aircraft design reduces its complexity which increases safety exponentially, reduces manufacturing costs, reduces maintenance costs, reduces the cost of purchasing the aircraft and increases the service life of the aircraft. Reducing complexity also reduces weight which then in turn, increases the range of the aircraft.
Note about electric aircraft
Electric vehicles switch immediately on and off, just as we are all aware with electric appliances, like a vacuum cleaner and tools such as an electric hand drill. A helicopter has a start-up and shut-down sequence which takes some time before the helicopter can lift-off and after it lands, it takes time for the engine and rotors to come to a stop. An eVTOL aircraft once programmed with its destination, can turn on immediately and begin to fly. When it lands, the propellers (or ducted fans) will turn off immediately keeping crew, passengers and those near an eVTOL aircraft safe.
Electric aircraft are also typically lighter in weight when compared with their conventional internal combustion engines or turbine engines. With engines, there is the weight of the engine, weight of any transmissions, linkages, fuel weight and fuel tank weight. With electric aircraft, there is only propeller weight, electric motors (which are usually very small and very reliable) and battery weight. The range of electric aircraft usually have a longer range (or a longer range than one would expect) than conventional aircraft due the aircraft weighing less.
Specifications:
- Aircraft: Heavy-lift air cargo eVTOL prototype aircraft
- Piloting: Autonomous
- Cargo: Detachable cargo pod
- Cruising speed: Unknown
- Maximum cargo load: Unknown
- Propellers: 9 propellers (8 VTOL-only propellers, 1 rear pusher propeller)
- Electric motors: 9 electric motors
- Power source: Batteries
- Wing: 1 canard front wing and 1 high rear main wing with winglets
- Booms: There are 2 booms parallel to the fuselage which hold the VTOL propellers
- Tail: 2 rear downward vertical stabilizers
- Landing gear: The front legs retract into VTOL boom frame when in flight and has 2 fixed rear tail wheels
- Safety features: Distributed Electric Propulsion (DEP), provides safety through redundancy for its passengers and/or cargo. DEP means having multiple propellers and motors on the aircraft so if one or more motors or propellers fail, the other working motors and propellers can safely land the aircraft.
Related Aircraft:
- AutoFlight Albatross V400 (production model)
- AutoFlight BAT600 (defunct)
- AutoFlight Carryall V2000CG (production model)
- AutoFlight F240 Hot Wheels (defunct)
- AutoFlight Firefighting (production model)
- AutoFlight Prosperty (production model)
- AutoFlight Prosperity I V1500M (prototype)
- AutoFlight V600 (prototype)
- AutoFlight V880CG (prototype)
- AutoFlight V1200 (concept design)
Company Insights:
Resources:
- Autoflight website
- Autoflight YouTube Channel
- Autoflight Instagram
- Autoflight LinkedIn
- USA: Autoflight continues to scale up its eVTOL aircraft as it launches the V400, Vertical Magazine, Sept. 13, 2020
- Article: Autoflight announces its V400 eVTOL and outlines future product roadmap, eVTOL Insights, Sept 14, 2020
- Article: Autoflight Aviation from China is selling hybrid VTOL electric cargo drones, Electric Bike, Aug. 22, 2021
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