DaVinci Technology ZeroG V1 (concept design)

ZeroG V1 (concept design)
DaVinci Technology, Ltd
Hanoi, Vietnam and Chicago, Illinois, USA
www.da-vinci.us

DaVinci Technology was founded in Jan. 2017 by Trí Đinh Quốc in Hanoi, Vietnam and also has offices in Chicago, Illinois (USA). The team started to build their first hybrid-electric vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) passenger technology demonstrator in 2015. The research and development team has four electronics and aerodynamic engineers, three flight controller firmware and application software engineers, and two concept designers and mechanical designers.

The ZeroG V1 (concept design) is a one passenger eVTOL multicopter aircraft for personal use or on-demand air taxi service. The aircraft has 12 propellers and 12 electric motors located on top of the aircraft and the custom composite made ducts housing the propellers are mounted in a circular fashion. The propellers are in sets of two, stacked one on top of the other. The propellers are either counter-rotating propellers (going in opposite directions) or they are co-rotating propellers (propellers traveling the same direction). It has been shown in scientific tests, that co-rotating propellers reduce noise and also increases the efficiency of the propellers.

The aircraft's estimated maximum speed is 70 km/h (44 mph), has an estimated range of 50 km (31 m) and a flight time of 20 minutes. The pilot controls the aircraft using a joystick located on the right arm rest and another hand control is on the left arm rest. There is a flat screen instrument panel directly in front of the pilot and there is another flat screen near the front ceiling of the aircraft.

The aircraft that has a cylindrical shaped fuselage with almost a full front window. The two side windows are circular in shape and are as large as the cylindrical shape of the fuselage. Both of the side windows double as the doors to the aircraft. All windows are tinted providing protection from bright sunlight. The doors are hinged in the rear of the window/door instead of being hinged in the front. The aircraft has fixed skid type landing gear, reducing the weight and complexity of the aircraft. The empty weight of the aircraft is 55 kg (110 lb), has a maximum payload of 80 kg (176 lb) and has a maximum takeoff weight of 135 kg (298 lb).

It is unknown if DaVinci Technology will make the ZeroG V1 (concept design) into a production aircraft. The company does plan developing an phone app for their aircraft for on-demand air taxi service. As of 2022, the company has not made any comments when they plan to make their production aircraft. The company has stated in the past, their initial goal was to have production aircraft ready to sell in 2023.

Specifications:

• Aircraft type: eVTOL concept design passenger aircraft
• Piloting: 1 pilot (or passenger) (future models will be autonomous)
• Maximum speed: 70 km/h (44 mph)
• Range: 50 km (31 m)
• Flight time: 20 minutes
• Cruise altitude: Unknown
• Empty weight: 55 kg (110 lb)
• Maximum payload: 80 kg (176 lb)
• Maximum takeoff weight: 135 kg (298 lb)
• Propellers: 12 propellers
• Electric motors: 12 electric motors
• Power source: Batteries
• Fuselage: Carbon fiber composite
• Windows: Front window starts at ceiling and down to the instrument panel. The left and right doors are also windows.
• Landing gear: Fixed skid 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 in the sub-systems of the aircraft.

Company Insights:

• Crunchbase
• FutureFlight
• Transport Up

Resources:

• DaVinci Technology website
• Tri Dinh Quoc YouTube Channel
• Tri Dinh Quoc LinkedIn
• Video: Take Off, Tri Dinh Quoc, Aug. 11, 2016
• Video: ZeroG Manned Drone, Tri Dinh Quoc, Dec. 23, 2017
• Video: Davinci ZeroG Manned Multicopter NAVLOG #53, Drone & Sundry, Jan. 3, 2018
• Article: DaVinci Flies Away a Winner, Medium, July 10, 2018
• Article: Meet the Teams, GoFlyPrize, Mar. 5, 2019