Volerian Century

Century
Volerian
York, East Yorkshire, United Kingdom
www.volerian.com

In 2010 Volerian was formed by James Rotherham to design hybrid-electric vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft that would balance the capabilities of a helicopter with a conventional plane, and using a electric ducted fans powered by a turbine engine. In 2012, the company began to develop quiet electric propeller technology powered by batteries and move away from a turbine power source. The company also decided to sell their propeller technology to other electric VTOL (eVTOL) passenger aircraft companies. The name of the company is made from two Italian words, Voler and ian. The word Voler means to fly and ian means thing, so the name of the company in short means, flying thing.

A major company goal was the design and manufacturing of quiet propeller technology, making sure it was very safe and very efficient. Volerian has therefore developed the Volerian Propulsion System. The company has reported their proprietary flapping wing technology is more efficient than propellers, produces more thrust using the equivalent energy input than used by propellers, are very quiet, and are very safe for passengers and the ground crew.

The flapping wing is efficient by itself. However, the company placed the flapping wing near the air intake of a uniquely shaped duct and then placed a stationary wing (a stator wing) after the flappy wing in the rear section of the duct which improves the efficiency of the entire propulsion system. The flapping action of the wing creates a stream of thrust producing vortices known as a reverse Kármán vortex street. The stator wing, located downstream of the flapping wing, further increases efficiency. According to the company airstream inside the duct work assembly is called a Cat's mare effect.

With this specially shaped duct work and wings provides a very efficient thrust for propulsion reducing the amount of flapping and energy needed for the equivalent amount of thrust and energy needed for a typical propeller. The company has made hundreds of computer simulations and scale test rigs to arrive at an optimum design for the propulsion system.

When comparing a flapping wing to a propeller, according to Rotherham, a propeller has little thrust towards each end of the propeller which is an inherent inefficiency of propellers. But with a flapping wing, you have thrust taking place on the entire width of the flapping wing. This is why a flapping wing is more efficient than a propeller and why it takes less energy to get the same amount thrust from a flapping wing versus a propeller.

This unique type of flapping wing works on aircraft and is also a very effective desk fan. At the 2018 Farnborough International Airshow (United Kingdom) the company had a booth to display their flapping wing technology and get the word out to eVTOL companies about their novel technology. A proof of concept prototype fan was completed in 2020 with development continuing in 2021.

The speed of each flapping wing can be controlled independently from each other. On an aircraft, the design has multiple ducted flapping wing assemblies adjacent to each other which can be called an array. The entire array also has the added effect of acting as a wing which also helps take part of the load off the aircraft during flight.

All moving parts are still safely located within the ducts. In the event of an unpowered descent the fluttering action of the wings, caused by air flowing through the ducts, will create drag and cause the array to act like a parachute. In a written statement, a company spokesman said, "Volerian has created a propulsion system that is cheap to manufacture and is much quieter and safer than any fan or propeller technology."

The Century eVTOL passenger aircraft holds two people and has an estimated cruise speed of 97 km/h (60 mph), a range of 32 km (20 miles) with a maximum payload of 170 kg (375 lb). The aircraft has a retro 1940s automobile look with two sets of flapping wing arrays which are parallel to the length of the cockpit. This type of design is so unique that it would be difficult to intuitively know how the aircraft flies.

The cockpit has a wrap around window (almost a canopy over cockpit), allowing for forward, left, right and top views. The middle to rear portion of the cockpit has a solid opaque roof. The interior of the cockpit has plenty of space for the passenger and has room for cargo. The aircraft lands on two landing skids.

The company foresees their aircraft to be used in a variety of missions such as air taxis, private VTOL aircraft, emergency services, air cargo and including military use. A sub-scale ground effect seaplane is expected to fly in 2022.

Specifications:

• Aircraft type: eVTOL passenger aircraft
• Piloting: Unknown
• Capacity: 2 passengers
• Cruise speed: 97 km/h (60 mph)
• Range: 32 km (20 miles)
• Flight Time: Unknown
• Maximum payload: 170 kg (375 lb)
• Propellers: Volerian Propulsion System (quiet and safe proprietary flapping wing technology)
• Electric Motors: Unknown
• Power source: Batteries
• Fuselage: Carbon fiber composite
• Windows: Has a wrap around window (almost a canopy over cockpit), allowing forward, left, right and top views. The middle to rear portion of the cockpit has a solid opaque roof.
• Landing gear: Landing skids
• Safety features: Distributed Electric Propulsion (DEP), provides safety through redundancy for its passengers and/or cargo. DEP for this aircraft, means having multiple flapping wings on the aircraft so if one or more of the flapping wings fail or the motors fail, the other working flapping wings and motors can safely land the aircraft. If the entire electric system of the aircraft fails, the flapping wings will act like a parachute, landing the aircraft safely. The Volerian Propulsion System has the entire propulsion system enclosed in duct work which increases the safety of passengers and crew exponentially.

Resources:

• Volerian website
• Volerian Facebook
• Volerian Twitter
• Volerian YouTube Channel
• Volerian Instagram
• Article: Volerian, the quietest and safest flying car at Farnborough Airshow, Design Boom, July 23, 2018
• Article: A glimpse of future air travel? Incredible flying car concept inspired by flapping wings soars silently through the air and can take off and land anywhere, Daily Mail, July 26, 2018
• Article: This New Aircraft Flies Through the Skies Like A Fish Swims Through Water, Robb Report, Aug. 17, 2018
• Video: Interview with Volerian Founder, Volerian, Sept. 10, 2021
• Video: Informal video of Volerian fan experimental prototype with noise and flow check, Volerian, Sept. 10, 2021
• Video: The Volerian Propulsion System, Theory of Operation, Volerian, Sept. 10, 2021
• Video: The Volerian Room Fan Project, an Introduction, Volerian, Sept. 10, 2021
• Article: VTOL v STOL, Volerian, Sept. 10, 2021
• Video: Volerian flying car, short take-off aircraft, Volerian, Sept. 10, 2021