Airbus has revealed work on an uncrewed multicopter demonstrator that could be scaled up to carry payloads of more than 250 kg (550 lb.).
The cargo multicopter was developed by engineers at the company’s X-Works innovation house and was demonstrated during an exercise organized by the Portuguese Navy-led Robotic Experimentation and Prototyping using the Maritime Uncrewed Systems exercise held in September.
Airbus says the 35-kg air system was designed to be modular, enabling payloads and batteries to be quickly swapped out. It was also equipped with Airbus’ DeckFinder system, a landing aid to enable automatic landings on ship decks.
The OEM says the system could perform a number of roles on a ship, including cargo transportation; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; and communications relay.
“This was a great opportunity to trial our small-scale demonstrator in realistic conditions,” says Jens Federhen, who led the X-works rapid prototyping team that developed the multicopter.
“Performing the demonstrations in such a demanding environment—surrounded by six research ships, 11 warships and 120 uncrewed systems around us—was extremely challenging, and at the same time very productive, as we have been able to learn and create useful collaboration links,” Federhen says.
The exercise allows NATO nations to experiment with a range of maritime uncrewed systems as militaries examine ways to automate capabilities such as antisubmarine warfare and minehunting.
Airbus sees a market for a multicopter air system carrying payloads of more than 250 kg over a range of 300 km or more. Such a system could also have commercial and humanitarian uses, the company suggests.
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