CycloTech CruiseUp (concept design)
CruiseUp (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
CruiseUp passenger all-electric or hybrid-electric VTOL concept design aircraft
The CruiseUp is a two passenger all-electric or hybrid-electric VTOL concept design aircraft used for advanced air mobility. 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.
The estimated maximum cruise speed of the aircraft is 150 km/h (93 mph) and the anticipated range is 100 km (62 miles). The concept design aircraft has six CycloRotors, six electric motors and can be powered by an all-electric or a hybrid-electric power source. The aircraft has four CycloRotors positioned on the four corners of the aircraft and are perpendicular to the fuselage. The two other CycloRotors are in the center of the front and rear of the cabin and are positioned inline to the fuselage. The four CycloRotors on the corners of the aircraft are used for forward, reverse, VTOL and yaw flight. The two inline CycloRotors are used for high precision sideways flight. The use of CycloRotors provide precision flight in all directions during normal to gusty wind conditions, as well as mid-air breaking all without tilting or banking the aircraft.
The aircraft has large side, front and top windows for spectacular views for the passengers. The fuselage is made from carbon fiber composite material for a high strength and low weight ratio. The dimensions planned for the aircraft are 6.7m X 3.3m (~22 ft X ~10 ft, 10 in). The aircraft has fixed skid landing gear. The landing gear has two skids in the front of the aircraft and two rear landing struts.
The safety features of the aircraft are distributed electric propulsion (DEP) which provides safety through redundancy for its passengers. DEP means having multiple propellers (or in this case CycloRotors) and motors on the aircraft so if one or more propellers or motors fail, the other working propellers and motors can safely land the aircraft. In this case, two CycloRotors can fail and the pilot can still land aircraft safely to the ground. There are also redundancies of critical components in the sub-systems of the aircraft.
The company reveals the size of the CruiseUp aircraft is only 50% bigger than current automobiles and smaller than most eVTOL air taxi concept designs. This means the aircraft can use existing infrastructure to land, such as in private driveway, landing pads or in unprepared open spaces. The aircraft was designed for passengers to travel comfortably within urban, suburban and rural areas. The company also notes the CruiseUp concept design aircraft has the highest maneuverability of all eVTOL designs created to date.
More funding
On Feb. 28, 2024, CycloTech announced it had raised €20 million EUR ($21.7 million USD) to fund its work on a novel propulsion system for aviation. The investment is from Breeze Invest and Konos Holdings and will go towards further development of the CycloRotor. It marks CycloTech’s progress towards meeting its target of raising €53 million EUR ($57 million USD) by the year’s end, the company said in a press release. “We are convinced that CycloTech’s unique technology will revolutionize how we move from A to B in the long term,” said Breeze Invest Managing Director Maximilian Schönfeldt in a statement.
Specifications:
- Aircraft type: Passenger hybrid-electric or all-electric VTOL concept design aircraft
- Piloting: 1 pilot
- Capacity: 1 passenger
- Maximum cruise speed: 150 km/h (93 mph)
- Range: 100 km (62 miles)
- Propellers: 6 CycloRotors
- Electric motors: 6 electric motors
- Power source: Batteries
- Fuselage: Carbon fiber composite
- Dimensions: 6.7m X 3.3m (~22 ft X ~10 ft, 10 in)
- Windows: Large side, front and top windows for spectacular views for the passengers
- Landing gear: Fixed skid landing gear (two skids in the front of the aircraft and two rear landing struts)
- 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. Two CycloRotors can fail and the pilot can still land aircraft safely to 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 Compound Helicopter (concept design)
- CycloTech D-Dalus (concept design)
- CycloTech UAV Demonstrator (concept design)
Company Insights:
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
- Article: CycloTech Presents First Air Car with CycloRotors, CycloTech, Oct. 5, 2023
- Article: CycloTech unveils its CycloRotor-powered eVTOL air car concept, New Atlas, Oct 5, 2023
- Article: CycloTech presents first air car with cyclo rotors in Austria, eVTOL Insights, Oct. 6, 2023
- Video: World’s First Flying Car with CycloRotors - CycloTech CruiseUp, Global Update, Oct. 11, 2023
- Video: Discover Cyclotech #1 | Company Introduction, CycloTech GmbH, Mar. 10, 2024
- Article: One of the Most Innovative eVTOL Propulsion Technologies Gets a $21 Million Boost, Autoevolution, Feb. 29, 2024
- Article: Electric Air Car Funded; CycloRotors Replace Propellers, IOT World Today, Mar. 6, 2024
- Article: CycloTech Secures Investment, Electric VTOL News, Apr. 29, 2024
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