CycloTech CCY-01 (concept design)

CCY-01 (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 cyclorgyro technology. (Image credit: CycloTech)

CyclorRotor
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

CCY-01 air cargo eVTOL concept design drone
The CCY-01 is a remote controlled (and eventually autonomous) air cargo eVTOL concept design drone. The drone has a very futuristic and unique look to the drone. As some people may remember, the breakthrough technology distributed electric propulsion (DEP), is something that NASA had been dreaming of for decades, as said by NASA's Mark Moore in a SciTechDaily article published on July 15, 2015. With DEP, electric propellers and electric motors can be placed anywhere on an aircraft's fuselage. (And for that matter, you can make just about any object fly (like a bathtub, table or a sofa) using propellers, electric motors, batteries and a drone controller.)

CycloTech took advantage of the DEP design capability and has put the CycloRotors in the exact positions needed to maximize the drone's aerodynamic efficiency on the drone's bug-like fuselage. With CycloRotors, the drone can precisely fly from its departure to its destination, even in gusty wind conditions. If two of the CycloRotors fail, the drone can still land safely. There are also redundancies of critical components in the sub-systems of the aircraft.

The estimated cruise speed is 120 km/h (75 mph) and has an expected maximum cruise speed of 130 km/h (81 mph). The maximum range of the drone (carrying the maximum allowed payload weight) is calculated to be 40 km (25 m). The aircraft has a maximum altitude of approximately 1,500 m (4,921 ft). The aircraft has the planned capability to fly in windy conditions of up to 68 km/h (42 mph) winds and still fly precision maneuvers in urban areas and tight places.

The planned empty weight of the aircraft is 235 kg (518 lb), has a maximum projected payload weight of 45 kg (99 lb) and has a predicted maximum takeoff weight of 280 kg (617 lb). The drone carries cargo in a specialized cargo container allowing easy loading and unloading of cargo. This custom air cargo container was made specifically for safe and ergonomic ground operations.

CycloRotor power information:

• Rotor RPM: 2,600 rpm
• Overall hover thrust: 2,750 N
• Maximum overall thrust: 4,395 N
• Overall hover drive power: 118 kW
• Maximum overall drive power: 210 kW

The fuselage is a modified tandem X design and has six CycloRotors, six electric motors and is powered by battery packs. Four CyclorRotors are used for forward flight. Two side rotors are used for lateral force needed for precision maneuvering and to recover from gusty wind conditions. The fuselage is made from carbon fiber composite for a high strength to low weight ratio. The size of aircraft is 2.7 m x 2.5 m (8 ft, 10 in X 8 ft, 2.5 in).

In the top rear of the fuselage is what looks like a horizontal stabilizer; however, if you look at the graphics, the entire drone tilts forward during flight and what looks like a horizontal stabilizer is actually a small wing. In fact, the air cargo container is in the aerodynamic shape of a wing and the cargo container doubles as a wing. The company recognizes that during takeoff, landing or other climbing and descending phases, the aircraft will experience aerodynamic resistance. This aerodynamic resistance most likely happens for most eVTOL aircraft. The aircraft has fixed quadricycle strut landing gear.

CycloTech
CycloTech develops aircraft configurations together with partners from the aviation, automotive and logistics industry. Their partners define the configuration and CycloTech contributes to the propulsion technology. CycloTech offers access to its patented technology through license agreements and payment of royalties.

Specifications:

• Aircraft type: Air cargo eVTOL concept design drone
• Piloting: Remote or autonomous
• Capacity: Air cargo
• Cruise speed: 120 km/h (75 mph)
• Maximum cruise speed: 130 km/h (81 mph)
• Range (with the maximum payload weight): 40 km (25 m)
• Maximum altitude: 1,500 m (4,921 ft)
• Wind condition flight capabilities: Can fly in windy conditions of up to 68 km/h (42 mph)
• Empty weight: 235 kg (518 lb)
• Maximum payload weight: 45 kg (99 lb)
• Maximum takeoff weight: 280 kg (617 lb)
• Propellers: 6 CycloRotors
• Electric motors: 6 electric motors
• Power source: Battery packs
• Rotor RPM: 2,600 rpm
• Overall hover thrust: 2,750 N
• Maximum overall thrust: 4,395 N
• Overall hover drive power: 118 kW
• Maximum overall drive power: 210 kW
• Fuselage: Carbon fiber composite
• Size of aircraft: 2.7 m x 2.5 m (8 ft, 10 in X 8 ft, 2.5 in)
• Landing gear: Fixed quadricycle strut landing gear
• Safety features: Distributed Electric Propulsion (DEP), provides safety through redundancy for its passengers and/or cargo. DEP means having multiple propellers (or ducted fans) and motors on the aircraft so if one or more propellers (ducted fans) or motors fail, the other working propellers (or ducted fans) and motors can safely land the aircraft. There are also redundancies of critical components in the sub-systems of the aircraft.

Related Aircraft:

• CycloTech Air Taxi V1 (concept design)
• CycloTech Air Taxi V2 (concept design)
• CycloTech Bumblebee (technology demonstrator)
• CycloTech Compound Helicopter (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
• Article: Cyclotech and Yamato partner up on a bizarre, tilting cargo drone, New Atlas, Apr. 13, 2022
• Article: CycloTech and Yamato reveal a unique-looking cargo drone concept, Inceptive Mind, Apr. 13, 2022
• Article: CCY-01, the incredible cargo drone from Cyclotech and Yamato, Futuro Prossimo, Apr. 15, 2022
• Article: Bizarre-looking cargo drone concept has unique propulsion method, Institution of Mechanical Engineers, June 30, 2022
• Video: CycloRotor | Cargo Drone CCY-01, Yamato CycloTech Cooperation, CycloTech GmbH, May 19, 2023