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 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 1.2m X 0.9m. The JetQuad has no external airfoils and will operate in dense environments and rough weather.
FAST
AB6 JetQuad can take-off vertically, hover precisely at a single location, and transition to high-speed horizontal flight seamlessly. The innovative Thrust-Vectoring System (TVS) developed in-house by FusionFlight gives the drone these amazing features. An advanced set of control algorithms help the JetQuad perform agile maneuvers and fly autonomously through pre-set waypoint.
VERSATILE
The microturbines at the heart of the JetQuad consume a variety of heavy-fuel (Diesel, Kerosene, Jet-A). The JetQuad is not just a drone, it is a universal platform that can accommodate a variety of airframes and payloads. Furthermore, the JetQuad can take off and land from a variety of different terrains thanks to its unique propulsion configuration.
"JetQuad is like 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 drone 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 drone 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
FusionFlight is currently developing several noise suppression technologies which include optimized inlets and exhaust ducts. Frequency also plays a key role in noise suppression. The JetQuad engines operate at a much higher RPM than quadcopters and helicopters (over 100,000rpm compared to 10,000rpm). Higher frequency noise travels shorter distances through the atmosphere. As a result, even though the jet-engines themselves are loud (100dB), you will barely hear them at a distance.
Sustainability
Turbine-based engines burn fuel at a lower-temperature and lower pressure than internal combustion engines (ICE). As a result, turbine engines emit less pollution than ICE engines at similar power output. Furthermore, the microturbine engine works on all types of heavy fuel and will even run well on Biodiesel. In the future, algae farms will produce biodiesel in a sustainable manner that will not require to drill the earth in search of fossil fuels.
Supersonic Speed
Jet-engines are versatile devices that have huge upgrade potential. One can equip a jet-engine with an afterburner to boost the escape velocity of the exhaust gas. This extra boost can push the JetQuad through the sound barrier and beyond. Furthermore, one can replace the standard payload with a Ramjet engine which will allow the JetQuad to fly even faster.
