DaVinci Technology ZeroG V2 (concept design)

ZeroG V2 (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 V2 (concept design) is a two passenger eVTOL multicopter concept design created for on-demand air taxi service. The aircraft has been to designed to first be piloted and in the future, the aircraft is expected to be completely autonomous. The aircraft has tandem seating, one person sits in front of the other. The aircraft has an estimated maximum speed 43 mph (70 kph), a flight time of 25 minutes and has a maximum layout of 330 lb (150 kg).

The aircraft has a futuristic design with an egg-shaped type of fuselage with 12 propellers and 12 electric motors located top of the aircraft. There is a custom surfboard type shaped structure (or a rectangular-type boom) attached to the top of the main fuselage. The propellers are housed inside ducts and the propellers are in sets of two, stacked one on top of the other. Three propeller ducts are on each side of the propeller boom. 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.

All windows are tinted providing protection from bright sunlight. The front window is similar to that of a helicopter's windscreen. The two side windows are much larger than conventional aircraft and both side windows double as the doors to the aircraft. It is unknown if the doors are hinged at the front, top or rear of the door. The aircraft has fixed skid type landing gear, reducing the weight and complexity of the aircraft.

DaVinci Technology has reported they are building a network of autonomous electric flying taxis. The company states their eVTOL high-speed passenger aircraft will allow riders to be transported in three times less the time and at the same cost of a ground based taxi to their destinations. With their aircraft, they believe it will alleviate the delays experienced around the world in road traffic.

In late 2017, the company started crewed flight tests using full scale eVTOL prototypes. The technological knowledge from the flight tests is being put into their production passenger aircraft. The company has stated they would like to start production of the aircraft as early as 2023.

Specifications:

• Aircraft type: eVTOL multicopter passenger aircraft
• Piloting: 1 pilot
• Capacity: 1 passenger
• Maximum speed: 43 mph (70 kph)
• Range: Unknown
• Flight time: 25 minutes
• Cruise altitude: Unknown
• Maximum payload: 330 lb (150 kg)
• Propellers: 12 propellers (ducted)
• Electric motors: 12 electric motors
• Power source: Batteries
• Fuselage: Carbon fiber composite
• Windows: Panoramic wrap around windows allowing forward, left and right visibility, for spectacular views with a solid roof above the passenger compartment
• 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. The aircraft has an autoland program.

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