Malloy Aeronautics T650

T650
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 T650 is an autonomous eVTOL heavy-lift cargo drone capable of carrying a maximum payload 300 kg (660 lbs), has a maximum speed 140 km/h (87 mph) and has a maximum range of 30 km (19 miles). The company is using a very large battery with the highest density in its class. 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. The arms for the propellers are will also be removable to reduce the size of the drone which makes it easier for ground or air transportation. 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 and security 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. In addition, the T650 could be used to airlift soldiers out of dangerous areas. 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.

Specifications:

• Aircraft type: eVTOL heavy-lift cargo drone
• Piloting: Autonomous
• Capacity: Cargo only
• Maximum speed: 140 km/h (87 mph)
• Maximum range: 30 km (19 miles)
• Maximum payload: 300 kg (660 lbs)
• 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:

• Crunchbase

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, em>Army Times, Nov. 9, 2020
• Article: British Engineers reveal ground-breaking electric uncrewed concept vehicle, BAE Systems, Sept. 14, 2021
• Article: T-650 Quadcopter Promises a Capacity of Over 660 Pounds, Great for Military Applications, Autoevolution, Sept. 15, 2021
• Article: First Middle-East appearance for BAE Systems’ T-650 Heavy Lift Electric UAS, European Defence Review On-Line, Mar. 14, 2022
• Article: BAE Systems targets 2025 entry to service for all-electric T-650 UAV, Shephard, May 26, 2022
• Article: BAE to fly T-650 heavy-lift UAS in drive to electric propulsion, Janes, June 1, 2022