Moller International Aerobot® (concept design)
Aerobot® (concept design)
Moller International / Freedom Motors
Dixon, California, USA
www.moller.com
www.freedom-motors.com
Moller International was founded in 1983 as a spin-off of Moller Corporation to continue to design, develop and manufacture conventional and hybrid-electric vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) passenger and cargo aircraft. Moller's aircraft being manufactured for use in the nascent advanced air mobility (AAM) industry. The company is designing aircraft that are safe, efficient, affordable, easy-to-use as automobiles, low noise, low emissions, low fuel usage, low purchase price, low operating cost and can use existing transportation networks. The company is headquartered in Dixon, California, USA.
The company has developed and integrated novel technologies required for small, powered-lift VTOL aircraft. These include electronic stabilization and control systems, efficient ducted fan designs, thrust vectoring mechanisms and aerodynamically stable composite airframe structures. The single most significant spin-off technology is the Rotapower engine, a Wankel rotary engine. This engine is now produced and marketed by Freedom Motors.
Historically, the company has primarily focused on using petroleum fueled engines for their power source of their aircraft designs and prototypes. Moller International confirmed in June 2023, they are now designing all their aircraft as hybrid-electric VTOL passenger and cargo aircraft. At the same time, it was also confirmed with Moller that any of their past and current aircraft can be designed and manufactured as hybrid-electric VTOL or all-electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
Aerobot® uncrewed VTOL air cargo concept design aircraft specifications
The Aerobot® is general term used for any of the Moller International VTOL passenger aircraft models that are converted to become uncrewed aircraft specifically designed and manufactured for air cargo service. Each of Moller's aircraft models can be designed and manufactured to use a conventionally powered powertrain, a hybrid-electric power source or using only battery packs for the aircraft's power.
The range of cruise speeds is estimated between 60-350 mph (96-217 km/h), depending upon the aircraft used. The flight time can range between 2-5 hours. Moller has stated their Aerobot® air cargo aircraft's payloads, depending upon the size of the aircraft, can carry from approximately 5-750 lb (2.27-340 kg). It is possible that Moller's aircraft could be scaled even larger to hold larger payloads.
Specifications:
- Aircraft type: All electric or conventionally powered VTOL air cargo concept design aircraft
- Piloting: Remote or autonomous
- Capacity: Cargo only
- Maximum speed: 60-350 mph (96-217 km/h) (or possibly faster depending upon the size of the aircraft manufactured)
- Range: 1-600 miles (1.6-965 km)
- Flight time: 2-5 hours
- Maximum payload: 5-750 lb (2.27-340 kg) (or possibly holds more depending upon the size of the aircraft manufactured)
- Propellers: Dependent upon the model used
- Electric motors: Dependent upon the model used
- Power source: Dependent upon the specifications of the buyer
- Fuselage: Carbon fiber composite
- Wings: Dependent upon the model used
- Tail: Dependent upon the model used
- Landing gear: Retractable tricycle wheeled 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 of critical components in the sub-systems of the aircraft. Each model has a whole aircraft ballistic parachute.
Related Aircraft:
- Moller International Autovolantor (concept design)
- Moller International Firefly (concept design)
- Moller International Neuera 200 (prototype)
- Moller International Skycar® 100 (prototype)
- Moller International Skycar® 200 (concept design)
- Moller International Skycar® 400 (prototype)
- Moller International Skycar® 600 LAMV (concept design)
- Moller International Skycar® M200 (prototype)
- Moller International Skycar® M900 (concept design)
Company Insights:
Resources:
- Moller International website
- Freedom Motors website
- Moller International Facebook
- Moller International Twitter
- Moller International YouTube Channel
- Moller International LinkedIn
- Article: Moller International, Inc. Celebrates 50 Years of VTOL and Engine Technology Development, GlobeNewsWire, Sept. 29, 201Article: Moller International, Inc. Postpones First Manned, Untethered Flight of the M400X Moller Skycar®, sUAS News, Sept. 27, 2011
- Article: Moller International Develops Two New Light-Sport Skycars, PR Newswire, Jan. 30, 2012
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