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Technoplane Mini-Bee Octadecacopter (concept design)

Mini-Bee Octadecacopter hybrid-electric VTOL two passenger multicopter concept design aircraft

 

Mini-Bee Octadecacopter (concept design)
Technoplane
Moulines, Allier, France
www.mini-bee.com
www.technoplane.com

Based in France, Technoplane was founded in 2013 and is a data services and solution provider. In addition, Technoplane is also the coordinator of the aeronautical collaborative research and development team for hybrid-electric vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) passenger and cargo aircraft. with multiple designs, all called the Mini-Bee. Technoplane is also developing several designs of a conventional takeoff and landing planes called the Beeplane.

The Mini-Bee collaborative project began in 2015 with a group of aviation enthusiasts, from multiple universities, sharing the common dream of creating hybrid-electric VTOL passenger aircraft to be efficient, safe, cost effective and practical for advanced air mobility (AAM). The team named their project Mini-Bee after the honeybee, which is known for its agility, efficiency and adaptability. In the beginning days, many sketches were drawn and standards were created. The name Mini-Bee is used for multiple unique VTOL aircraft designs that can look similar to or look completely different from each other.

The inventors presented their first mock-up of the Mini-Bee at the 2015 Paris Air Show in France. Initially, the Mini-Bee project was to study air transportation for individuals but then switched to air medical transportation. The inventors achieved a Level 1 technology readiness level (TRL1) in 2016. In the summer of 2017, the project team achieved a TRL2 with a subscale flying prototype and participated at the 2017 Paris Air Show. The subscale prototype was tested in a wind tunnel analyzing its aerodynamic properties and making adjustments to improve its performance. Also in 2017, the project team expanded to 15 universities and entered a TRL3 and had at least 10 industrial companies interested or participated in their research.

In 2018, the group made progress on the hybrid-electric configuration for their various aircraft and built a full-scale mock-up of one of their aircraft models. Overtime, the team grew with aeronautical engineers, designers, and experts in electric propulsion and energy management. The Mini-Bee team also showcased their aircraft at the 2019 Paris Air Show. In 2020, the inventors decided to make the Mini-Bee a modular design, allowing each aircraft model to fit into standard airliner cargo containers to make is easy to transport the aircraft to anywhere in the world. As of 2023, the inventors are continuing to make progress in design, flight tests and advanced simulation tools to improve the performance of each aircraft model in a wide range of weather and test conditions.

Timeline of Mini-Bee projects

  • 2015: Mock-ups drafted and designed, participated in the 2015 Paris Air Show
  • 2016: Detailed concept designs made, super structures designed, electronics and sensors integration started
  • 2017: Subscale model made and wind tunnel tested, participated in the 2017 Paris Air Show
  • 2018: Full scale prototype made
  • 2019: Continuation of working on multiple aircraft, participated in the 2019 Paris Air Show
  • 2020: Designed all aircraft models to be modular to make assembly easy and to make them easy to ship in airliner cargo containers to distribute them any place in the world
  • 2021-2023: The inventors continue to refine their designs and prototypes

The Mini-Bee Octadecacopter hybrid-electric VTOL passenger concept design aircraft
The Mini-Bee Octadecacopter hybrid-electric VTOL multicopter is a two passenger concept design aircraft with 18 propellers and 18 electric motors. The multicopter aircraft has one pilot who can fly manually or use autopilot technology and can carry one passenger. The pilot flies the aircraft with a steering wheel and a joystick in an enclosed cockpit. The cockpit has crash resistant bucket seats for each person.

The estimated cruise speed is 170 km/h (106 mph) and has an expected range of 387 km (240 miles). The calculated maximum payload weight is 180 kg (397 lb) and has an anticipated maximum takeoff weight of 700 kg (1,543 lb). The power output for each propeller is 4 kW each and the total electrical output with the hybrid-electric engine system is 87.6 kW mechanical.

The aircraft has flight avionics, engine and motor monitoring, sensors and other electronic components. The 18 propellers and 18 electric motors are positioned above the cockpit in a concentric symmetrical shape held with carbon fiber composite tubes. The multiple propellers will provide excellent lifting power and safety through redundancy. The power source is one Rotax 915 iS engine without a gearbox and two compact axial flux permanent magnet synchronous Emrax 208 twin hexaphase high-voltage electric motors.  

The entire multicopter can be loaded into two jetliner LD3 cargo containers. Once flown to its destination, the inventors will make assembly of aircraft so easy that the multicopter can be assembled directly on the tarmac with a minimum of tools. While the drawing above does not show the landing gear, according to a 2022 document, the multicopter will have fixed skid landing gear. The aircraft will have a whole aircraft emergency parachute that can hold 750 kg (1,653 lb), using a Junkers Profly Magnum 601 or 800 model.

The inventors foresee the multicopter to be used for short range flights for personal use, humanitarian aid, a light air ambulance or used for other medical purposes. In 2022, the inventors reported that the estimated selling price for each Mini-Bee Octadecacopter would be between €250,000.00 EUR and €300,000.00 EUR.

Specifications:

  • Aircraft type: Hybrid-electric VTOL passenger multicopter concept design aircraft
  • Piloting: 1 pilot plus autopilot technology
  • Capacity: 1 passenger
  • Cruise speed: 170 km/h (106 mph)
  • Range: 387 km (240 miles)
  • Maximum payload weight: 180 kg (397 lb)
  • Maximum takeoff weight: 800 kg (1,764 lb)
  • Propellers: 18 propellers (4 kW each)
  • Electric motors: 18 electric motors
  • Power source: Hybrid-electric power source, 1 Rotax 915 iS engine without gearbox and 2 compact axial flux permanent magnet synchronous Emrax 208 twin hexaphase high-voltage electric motors
  • Maximum power: 87.6 kW mechanical
  • Fuselage: Carbon fiber composite tubular structure or aluminum
  • Windows: Helicopter type windows for forward, left, right excellent views with a roof over your head
  • Landing gear: Fixed skid 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. There is a whole aircraft emergency parachute that can hold 750 kg (1,653 lb), using a Junkers Profly Magnum 601 or 800 model.

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Resources:

 

 

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