Malloy Aeronautics T400
/Malloy Aeronautics
T400/Malloy-Aeronautics-T400.jpg "Malloy Aeronautics T400 heavy-lift drone")
T400
Malloy Aeronautics Ltd
Berkshire, United Kingdom
www.malloyaeronautics.com
In 2012, Chris Malloy, engineer and helicopter pilot, founded Malloy Aeronautics and is based near London, England. The company is in the business of making electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) cargo autonomous aircraft for private, commercial, government and military use. All of Malloy Aeronautics aircraft are built to military standards allowing private, commercial, government and military clients have the same quality vehicle for their logistics needs. SURVICE Engineering is the reseller of their drones in the United States.
For some history, it was in 2006 that Chris Malloy designed and tested his aircraft, a hoverbike, called Hoverbike P1. The Hoverbike P1 had a motorcycle styled seating arrangement, handle bars, two propellers, was powered with an internal combustion engine and used mechanical gears to rotate the two propellers. The Hoverbike P1's designed was inspired by the Chinook helicopter. Malloy's next prototype was a one passenger eVTOL aircraft called the Hoverbike P2 with four propellers and was all electric. Both of these aircraft were prototypes and are no longer in use.
It has been said by the military that the most important part of military operations is logistics: The resupplying of food and water, parts, equipment, fuel, ammunition to soldiers and anything else they need. The US Army Research Laboratory (ARL) compares eVTOL cargo drones to an "Amazon on the battlefield" and knows that transporting supplies during wartime is dangerous work and is working to reduce the risk of danger to logistics personnel and to reduce the amount of time transporting cargo to the battlefield. With an autonomous eVTOL cargo drone, the US Army foresees with a single request, that soldiers could have needed supplies flown in by air during the day or night, in all weather conditions and no logistics personnel would be harmed by enemy fire.
The US Army recognizes the limitations of current battery technology and knows in the future that batteries will hold more energy which will increase the payload weight, speed and range of eVTOL cargo drones. In addition, the US Army's long term goal is to develop wireless recharging so that eVTOL aircraft can be charged while flying to their destination.
The T400 is an autonomous heavy-lift cargo drone with a maximum payload of 180 kg (397 lb), has a maximum speed of 126 k/mh (78 mph) and has a maximum range of 72 km (45 miles) with no payload (or a range of 19 km [12 miles] with a maximum payload). The drone has a typical multicopter drone propeller layout, has four sets of propellers (for a total of eight propellers) connected to struts on each corner of the aircraft on a 45 degree angle and has two fixed skid-type landing gear.
The drone has removable batteries which are easily lifted out and replaced with charged batteries by maintenance crew so there is very little downtime between flights. This type of system increases the value for customers who own this drone. To increase safety, the drone has been made with redundant avionics, drives and the battery system.
The company foresees their drones being used for logistical and resupply for private, commercial for rural and urban areas and for a variety of military applications. The drone can also be used to carry patients from a scene of an accident or disaster and to carry wounded solders from the battlefield to a military hospital. The drone will be found very useful as it has all-weather capability allowing normal air cargo and emergency deliveries to take place at any time for both non-military and military use.
/Malloy Aeronautics T400/Malloy-Aeronautics-T400-with-
load.jpg "T400 with military payload")
Specifications:
- Aircraft type: eVTOL cargo drone
- Piloting: Autonomous
- Capacity: Cargo only
- Maximum speed: 126 k/mh (78 mph)
- Maximum range: 72 km (45 miles) no payload, 19 km (12 miles) with a maximum payload
- Maximum payload: 180 kg (397 lb)
- Propellers: 8 propellers
- Electric Motors: 8 electric motors
- Power source: Batteries
- Landing gear: Fixed skid type landing gear
- Safety Features: Distributed Electric Propulsion (DEP), provides safety through redundancy for its passengers and/or cargo. DEP means having multiple propellers and motors on the aircraft so if one or more motors or propellers fail, the other working motors and propellers can safely land the aircraft.
Company Insights:
Resources:
- Malloy Aeronautics website
- Malloy Aeronautics Facebook
Malloy Aeronautics Twitter
Malloy Aeronautics YouTube Channel - Chris Malloy Hoverbike Kickstarter web page
- Article: Malloy Aeronautics is developing its Hoverbike for the US Department of Defense, New Atlas, June 15, 2015
- Article: US Army develops new unmanned joint tactical aerial resupply vehicle, Army Technology, Sept. 13, 2016
- Article: The Army wants to use this giant drone to resupply soldiers, The Verge, Jan. 19, 2017
- PDF document: The Joint Tactical Aerial Resupply Vehicle Impact On Sustainment Operations, US Army, June 9, 2017
- Article: UK Seeks Autonomous Heavy Lift Drones for Naval Service, Maritime-Executive, Dec. 29, 2020
- Article: The Army looks at mass recharging for drone swarms, Army Times, Nov. 9, 2020
Recent Pages
- Merk T Copter Car 25 (concept design)
- Merk T Copter Voiture 44 (concept design)
- Merk T Copter Car 8 (concept design)
- Merk Heli T-Arrow (concept design)
- Chatillon MotoFly (concept design)
- Galvani Fly Citycopter (concept design)
- Jantschke Megacity Aviation (concept design)
- FBike Flying Bike (technology demonstrator)
- 3D Molier Cargo Quadrocopter Drone (concept design)
- Zeva Aero Argon
