Skynet Project Genesys X-2

Genesys X-2
Skynet Project SRL
Cluj-Napoca, Romania
(website in progress)

Founded in 2017, the Skynet Project based in Romania, is in the business of the design and the future manufacturing of vertical takeoff and electric (VTOL) passenger aircraft for Urban Air Mobility (UAM), intercity air travel (between two cities) and rural travel. The company has already has applied for patents for their VTOL aircraft. The name of their aircraft will be named UEVA, meaning Ultra-Efficient VTOL Aircraft.

An important feature the company's aircraft will be that each aircraft will accept multiple power sources. The aircraft can be powered by battery packs making the aircraft an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Or the aircraft will accept fuel cells, internal combustion engines or turbine engines, each of which will generate electricity for the propellers and all other electrical systems in the aircraft.

The company has stated their aircraft will also be scalable. This means their aircraft will be able to be made into small or large air cargo drones as well as aircraft just about any size passenger aircraft that a customer would need.

The Genesys X-2 VTOL passenger aircraft has been designed to hold 7-8 passengers, has a high wing, eight propellers, a conventional fuselage and windows, a conventional tail and has retractable tricycle wheeled landing gear. The all-electric model has a cruise speed of 250 km/h (155 mph) with a range of 400 km (248 m). The hybrid-electric model has a cruise speed of 350 km/h (217 mph) with a range of 1,400 km (870 m). The main wing with winglets allow the aircraft to have a longer range than multicopter eVTOL aircraft.

For a reference, the Genesys X-2 airframe, main wing, conventional tail and landing gear look similar to the 11 seat Tecnam P2012 Traveler utility conventional propeller airplane which is made in Italy.

The propellers are on each side and under the main wing which are connected by a tilting t-type strut structure and propeller arms are connected to the underside of each wing. Each tilting T strut holds four VTOL propellers which are used for VTOL transition flight and for forward flight. There are two propellers at the end of each T, for a total of four t-ends on each tilting strut. Each pair of propellers has one pusher and one puller propeller. All propellers are used for VTOL flight and when transitioning to and from VTOL/forward flight. When the aircraft is in full forward flight, the four outside pusher propellers are stopped and only the four inside puller propellers are pulling the aircraft.

The aircraft is versatile in the way it takes off and lands. The pilot can choose to use either VTOL flight to take off, use a short takeoff and landing (STOL) feature using a small portion of the runway to take off. The aircraft can also take off conventionally like a general aviation airplane.

Due to the aircraft having the option to be powered by either a hybrid-electric or all electric power source, the company expects the development cost to be 50% less than conventional aircraft and 40% less in manufacturing costs and maintenance costs, due to the reduced complexity of the aircraft.

The type of power source (battery packs, internal combustion engines, turbine engines or fuel cells) used on the aircraft will be determined by the customer purchasing the aircraft. The final size of the aircraft will also be determined by the customer's needs.

The company expects its aircraft to be used for Urban Air Mobility, city to city air travel, rural air mobility, medevac, fire fighting, air cargo, offshore oil and gas platform (passenger transportation and cargo resupply), pollution monitoring, traffic monitoring and for military use.

The company has developed and built a subscale versatile airframe which can be used to test three types of propulsion systems. One of the subscale prototypes will be used to test a Genesys variant that will have four propellers.

The company plans to complete its subscale demonstrator by the summer of 2022. The company expects to manufacture a full scale demonstrator by other companies which want to collaborate with the Skynet Project.

Specifications:

• Aircraft type: Hybrid-electric or all-electric VTOL passenger aircraft
• Piloting: By pilot or by automated remote control
• Capacity: 7-8 passengers
• Cruise speed (battery packs): 250 km/h (155 mph)
• Cruise speed (hybrid-electric): 350 km/h (217 mph)
• Range (battery packs): 400 km (248 m)
• Range (hybrid-electric): 1,400 km (870 m)
• Maximum payload (hybrid-electric): 1,000 kg (2,2204 lb)
• Propellers: 8 propellers
• Electric Motors: 8 electric motors
• Power source: Battery packs or hybrid-electric (internal combustion engine, turbine engine or fuel cells)
• Fuselage: Carbon fiber composite
• Windows: Standard-sized general aviation airplane windows
• Wings: 1 main high wing with winglets
• Tail: Conventional tail
• 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. The aircraft can also land on conventionally on a runway.

Company Insights:

• Romanian-companies

Resources:

• Skynet Project website (in progress)
• Skynet Project Facebook
  Skynet Project LinkedIn
• Article: Cost effective ultra-efficient VTOL aircraft Genesys X-2, Micor Technologies, Nov. 9, 2021