DaVinci Technology ZeroG (technology demonstrator)

ZeroG (technology demonstrator)
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 technology demonstrator is a one passenger eVTOL multicopter that has 12 propellers, 12 electric motors, has a maximum speed of 70 km/h (44 mph), a range of 50 km (31 m) and has a flight time of 20 minutes. The pilot sits in the middle of the aircraft in an open cockpit and flies the demonstrator with a joystick. The pilot uses a motorcycle helmet, jumpsuit and gloves for safety.

The fuselage is a small vertically shaped hexagon with the pilot in the middle of the fuselage. There is an open hexagon frame that fits on the top of the fuselage with struts branching out to a slightly larger hexagon frame where the propellers and electric motors are attached. The landing gear has a hexagon frame with struts in the horizontal position and there are very small wheels attached to the bottom end of each strut. The empty weight of the demonstrator is 55 kg (110 lb), the maximum payload weight is 80 kg (176 lb) and the maximum takeoff weight is 135 kg (298 lb).

The company made subscale multicopter demonstrators as well as this full scale crewed technology demonstrator. DaVinci Technology has made videos of the full scale crewed technology demonstrator flying successfully but it is unknown how many flights the demonstrator has flown.

Specifications:

• Aircraft type: eVTOL passenger multicopter technology demonstrator
• Piloting: 1 pilot
• 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: Open cockpit
• Landing gear: 6 struts with very small wheels the bottom of each strut
• 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