JetQuad: Jet-Powered VTOL Drone.
Deliver your Emergency Supplies, Where you need them, When you need them – World’s most powerful and compact jet-engine drone with vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capability is set to revolutionize transportation and logistics.
COMPACT
The AB6 JetQuad is a compact jet-engine drone – it is about the same size as a large suitcase and has a combined output of 700N from four microturbine jet-engines. The JetQuad is ready to fly out-of-the-box, requires no assembly to launch, and has a landing footprint of roughly 1.2m X 0.9m. The JetQuad has no external airfoils nor rotating parts allowing it to operate in dense environments and rough weather.
FAST
AB6 JetQuad can take-off vertically, hover precisely at a single location, and transfer to 400km/hr horizontal cruise seamlessly all thanks to the proprietary Thrust-Vectoring System (TVS) developed in-house by FusionFlight. An advanced set of control algorithms allows the vehicle to perform agile maneuvers as well as fully autonomous guided waypoint navigation.
VERSATILE
The microturbines at the heart of the JetQuad consume a variety of heavy-fuel (Diesel, Kerosene, Jet-A) and have built-in generators to power any payload onboard. The JetQuad design is that of a platform allowing mounting of payload anywhere on the frame. Furthermore, the specific propulsion configuration (known as the “H-Pattern”) allows for take-off and landing from nearly all terrain types.
"JetQuad is an unmanned, scaled-down version of the Harrier Jump-Jet"
Combining vertical lift of a helicopter with the high-speed of a jet-fighter.
Less Moving Parts - Less Hassle.
We believe in simplicity. A high-speed jet-powered machine must be easy to build and easy to maintain. For this reason, the team at FusionFlight has reduced the number of moving parts to just eight: four turbines and four thrust vectoring nozzles. These components are combined with a central fuel tank and a custom avionics package to produce a truly compact aircraft.
Upgrade Packages
POWER
Microturbine jet-engines come in a variety of sizes with thrust output ranging from 25N to 1100N. The AB6 JetQuad platform may be readily upgraded to support any size engine depending on the payload and range requirements of the customer. In addition, FusionFlight designs and builds custom fuel-tank solutions for these platforms which are all integrated with the platform.
NAVIGATION
Various electronic upgrades are available for interested customers. A SATCOM receiver can be used to allow the ground-station to communicate with the drone via satellite, anywhere on Earth - useful for long-range missions. For operating the JetQuad in rough terrain, a companion computer with machine vision capability could greatly assist in autonomous navigation.
AERODYNAMICS
Just as with modern cars, the JetQuad may be equipped with an aerodynamic package. Typically the package would consist of a streamlined shell that acts as a Blended-Wing Body (BWB) as well as fully retractable landing gear. This shell provides lift during horizontal cruise and allows the JetQuad to de-throttle the engines. The result is large gain in fuel efficiency, allowing the JetQuad to travel longer and farther.
Unmanned Applications.
The JetQuad is useful anywhere where an ultra-fast and heavy delivery by air is necessary. This specifically applies to places lacking infrastructure or entirely disconnected from the electrical grid.
EMERGENCY SUPPLY
The faster emergency medical supplies can be delivered to a patient, the more likely a given patient is to survive the injury. For saving life, speed is key, and this is exactly where JetQuad shines the most.
ALL-WEATHER LOGISTICS
The JetQuad can provide logistical support in places where ordinary trucks and helicopters get bogged down. Lack of external air-foils make the JetQuad very resilient in adverse weather conditions while the jet-engine compressor allows operation at very high altitudes.
PIPELINE SURVEILLANCE
Oil and gas companies ordinarily use expensive manned airplanes and helicopters to survey pipelines for damage. A long-range JetQuad, upgraded with an Aero package, could perform the same missions quicker and more efficiently.
AB6 JetQuad Blended Wing Body - Long-Range Configuration.
Manned Applications.
The JetQuad is easily scaled-up to transport people through the air. These larger variants of the JetQuad will have to be more reliable - powered by eight or more microturbine engines. This way, if one engine fails, the vehicle continues to operate.
Medevac: High-Speed Flying Stretcher
The most notable manned application of the JetQuad technology is Emergency Medical Evacuation (MedeVac), or “Flying Stretcher”. In this configuration, a person is positioned in a horizontal orientation on a standard aerial stretcher located on top of the platform. The JetQuad Medevac is incredibly compact and will be capable of reaching and rescuing individuals trapped in terrain normally inaccessible by helicopters. The top-speed capability of the Medevac, coupled with high-altitude operation and weather resiliency provide for a robust emergency rescue system.
Axion: Two-Person Aerial Transport
The FusionFlight Axion is a large human transport based on microturbine technology. It is the "supercar" of personal aerial vehicles: a two-seater coupe that generates a combined thrust of 8kN from twelve identical microturbine jet-engines. The Axion will allow FusionFlight to enter the newly evolving personal aerial mobility market. As with all JetQuad design, the Axion platform is propeller-less, with no externally rotating airfoils which greatly maximizes safety. It is also compact and highly-maneuverable. Most importantly, the Axion has been designed from the ground-up to resemble an automobile which makes it very intuitive to fly and operate.
Future Developments
Noise Suppression
There are several noise suppression technologies which are currently under development including optimized inlets and exhaust ducts. Frequency also plays a key role in noise suppression. The JetQuad engines operate at a much higher RPM then quadcopters or helicopters (over 100,000rpm compared to 10,000rpm). This higher frequency noise produced by the JetQuad is much easier to suppress and travels shorter distances through the atmosphere.
Sustainability
Turbine-based engines burn fuel more steadily and at a lower-temperature than internal combustion engines (ICE). As a result, there is significantly less Nitrogen-based pollution emitted into the atmosphere when comparing a turbine and an ICE at similar power output. Furthermore, the microturbine engine works on any heavy fuel, and in the future, will run well on Biodiesel - a fuel that can be readily produced from waste, such as cooking oil.
Supersonic Speed
Jet-engines are versatile devices that may be upgraded in several ways. An afterburner can nearly double the thrust output of a microturbine and greatly boost the velocity of the exhaust gases. This extra boost, will allow the JetQuad to travel at even greater speeds. Furthermore, a ramjet could be installed on the JetQuad allowing it to fly even faster than the speed-of-sound while still maintaining hover and VTOL capability.
