JetQuad

Quad Turbine VTOL Drone

JetQuad is the world's smallest and most powerful jet-powered drone with vertical take-off and landing capabilities. It is like an unmanned, scaled-down version of the Harrier Jump-Jet

JetQuad is a drone, also known as UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) or UAS (Unmanned Aerial System). However, the JetQuad relies on new type of propulsion - it is not a quadcopter, nor a helicopter, nor an airplane. Four microturbine jet-engines produce a combined 200-Horsepower at full throttle and are all coupled with proprietary Thrust Vectoring Systems. We refer to this design as the "H-Configuration" - this is the first ever configuration in which the jet-engines alone provide the power for both vertical and horizontal flight as well as complete attitude control of the vehicle. The result is a compact, fully-autonomous, all-diesel drone, that can take-off and land virtually from any surface and capable of high speeds and payload capacity. FusionFlight has been developing JetQuad since 2016, check out some of the articles published over the years.

In addition, the high-precision Thrust Vectoring Systems (TVS) offer numerous advantages over modern multicopters. The TVS are actuated by high-torque servos which have significantly faster response time then the brushless motors/propellers used on ordinary electrical drones. As a result, the JetQuad is more agile and more controllable. The TVS also allow the channeling of engine exhaust from all four turbines in the aft direction of the drone during horizontal flight. Consequently, the JetQuad can utilize the power of all four engines to attain top-speeds unimaginable for similar-by-size VTOL aircraft.

 

 

 

 

Production and Sales

The AB5 JetQuad is a prototype model. We are actively working on finalizing our pilot model AB6 JetQuad (by improving overall vehicle reliability and expanding the flight envelope). This version will be available for sale starting in the summer of 2021, pending qualification testing. Variants with larger engines and improved aerodynamics will follow later.

 

Quick Facts:

  • Vertical Take-Off and Landing

  • Quick Re-fuel with Diesel / Jet-A

  • 250MPH+ High Speed Cruise

  • Ready-to-Fly out of the Box

  • $100,000 Base Model Cost

 

 

 

 

 

Compact and Lightweight

The JetQuad base version is specifically designed so that it can easily be carried by a single person. Empty and unloaded, the drone weighs 24kg (52lb) and has convenient rails to hold onto. In addition, the incredibly small footprint of the drone means it can be transported using most common ground vehicles. It also means that the drone can navigate and land in tight environments normally inaccessible by open-rotor drone technology such as helicopters and quadcopters. FusionFlight will offer optional upgrade package to the JetQuad - retractable landing gear equipped with shock-spring systems.  This upgrade will provide the aircraft with less wind resistance during flight and additional flexibility for landing on uneven terrain.

FusionFlight AB5 JetQuad - Quad Jet-Engine VTOL Drone

 

Simplicity and Reliability

The JetQuad design is simple and elegant. The drone is built from several modules put together - each module may be disassembled and replaced with minimal effort. The complete design of the drone contains only eight moving components - four turbines and four servo-motors. Such a small quantity of moving parts leads to superb reliability and reduced manufacturing costs, especially when compared to the same-class helicopter. For comparison, helicopters may have hundreds of moving parts and require frequent and often-time expensive maintenance.

Furthermore, the jet-engines are inherently simple and reliable devices that may also be augmented with additional features to greatly boost their performance, resulting a faster and even more capable vehicle. Afterburners, for example, can be readily combined with the proprietary Thrust Vectoring Systems to allow the JetQuad to travel faster then the speed of sound - no other VTOL drone technology in the world today has such potential.

FusionFlight AB5 JetQuad - Quad Jet-Engine VTOL Drone

 

JetQuad Skycrane Configuration

The naturally sleek and flat configuration of the JetQuad allows for both highly aerodynamic horizontal flight as well as the ability to accommodate many different style payloads. Extra-large payloads may be mounted underneath the vehicle and deployed in a very similar manner to the rocket-powered NASA Skycrane system which successfully deployed both the Curiosity and Perseverance rovers to the Martian surface (refer to the render). The JetQuad is essentially a Skycrane except that it is optimized for operation in the Earth's atmosphere - it is powered by jet-engines instead of rocket engines.

In this Skycrane configuration, the JetQuad would hover about 12ft at the payload drop off location, and slowly lower the payload to the ground via an electrical winch system. The Thrust Vectoring Systems on the engine nozzles are designed specifically to divert all hot gases away from the vehicle during hover allowing for the undercarriage payload to remain cool throughout the flight and payload deployment operation. Once the payload has successfully touched-down, the JetQuad will disconnect both the load-bearing tethers and the power umbilical and continue its mission. The JetQuad uses microturbine jet-engines that contain built-in generators, these can be used to re-charge and deploy large payloads using the Skycrane configuration.

 

Perseverance rover touching down on Mars. Image courtesy NASA/JPL-Caltech

Blended Wing Body

For applications requiring high endurance and high range of travel, the JetQuad must be encapsulated in an aerodynamic body. The most aerodynamic configuration is based on features derived from the Blended Wing Body (BWB) design originally developed by NASA and Boeing. This design maximizes internal volume and the lift coefficient of the vehicle body. For the JetQuad, increased lift means that the front two engines can be shut down during cruise while the aft engines are throttled down to 20%. The resulting vehicle maintains the VTOL and high-payload capabilities of the base platform while boosting endurance and range by an order of magnitude. This is just one example of encapsulation for the JetQuad platform - designed specifically towards fuel efficiency. Other designs of the body are also possible, only limited by imagination.

AB6 JetQuad Blended Wing Body

 

Supersonic VTOL UAV

For applications requiring extreme speed, FusionFlight will offer the Supersonic upgrade package to produce the world's first compact Supersonic VTOL drone. The AB6X JetQuad is largely based on the AB6 platform for VTOL operations, precision altitude hold, and all-terrain compatibility. In addition, the AB6X is equipped with a highly aerodynamic body designed to sustain supersonic flight. A common inlet which feeds all four turbines is constantly adjusted during all phases of flight to precisely control the amount of air entering the engines. This model will also contain FusionFlight TVS2 (Thrust Vectoring System Second Generation) which will be integrated with full-flow afterburners to provide the thrust needed for supersonic flight. TVS2 will also be capable of full 180-degree vector amplitude, allowing all four turbines to be utilized for forward thrust during horizontal flight. Lastly, a fully-retractable tripod landing gear will augment VTOL capability with flight deck taxiing and un-powered emergency landings.

FusionFlight AB6X JetQuad Supersonic VTOL UAV

 

Future Applications

A large advantage of the JetQuad technology is that it is readily scalable. As the overall mass of the vehicle increases, the mass penalty related to avionics, fuel systems, and structures greatly decreases which results in a very efficient airframe design. For this reason, upon successful production and deployment of the AB6 JetQuad, FusionFlight will focus on the next generation vehicle - the AB7 JetQuad. The AB7 JetQuad will have larger engines and fuel tanks and be capable of easily lifting a single person into the air.

 

High-Speed Urban Aerial Mobility (UAM)

The AB7 (currently in the concept design phase) is double the size of the AB6 (6ft long by 4ft wide), but packs nearly four times the horsepower (800HP) allowing it to safely lift a 200lb payload. The AB7 JetQuad will allow FusionFlight to enter and further revolutionize several new transportation markets, specifically ones related to single person transport. The AB7 may be powered by eight or more turbines, allowing for engine-loss redundancy. As with all JetQuad platforms, the AB7 platform is propeller-less, with no externally rotating airfoils which greatly maximizes safety. As a result, it is ideal for two human transport applications. These vehicles may be equipped with two or more engines per corner (for a total of 8, 12, or 16 engines) to allow for continued operation in an engine-out scenario.

The AB7 Urban Air Mobility (UAM) configuration, or “Flying Car” in simpler terms, will position a single person in an ergonomic seat on top of the platform. The resulting transport will have great advantages over similar single-person eVTOL transports currently under development. Besides the obvious top-speed advantage, the AB7 UAM will be capable of refueling in minutes with ordinary diesel fuel, and easily transportable to and from the launch site in the back of a pick-up truck.

FusionFlight AB7 Jet-Engine VTOL Flying Car

 

High-Speed Medical Evacuation (MedEvac)

The second notable application of the AB7 platform is Emergency Medical Evacuation (MedeVac), or “Flying Stretcher”. In this configuration, a person is positioned in a horizontal orientation within a standard aerial stretcher (as often used by helicopters) located on top of the platform. However, unlike helicopters, the AB7 Medevac is incredibly compact and will be capable of reaching and rescuing individuals trapped in terrain normally inaccessible by helicopters. Furthermore, survivability of a person greatly depends on how fast he or she gets delivered to the Emergency Room. As a result, the top-speed advantage of the AB7 Medevac, coupled with high-altitude operation capability and weather resiliency will make for a truly next-generation emergency rescue system.

COVID-19 Medevac

 

Key Advantages: Jet-Engines and Diesel

The performance of the JetQuad surpasses all other drone technologies for two main reasons: the use of jet-engines for propulsion, and diesel for fuel. The microturbines (small jet-engines) have the highest power-to-mass and power-to-volume densities of all known air-breathing engines. This means that when compared to similar-sized Internal Combustion Engines or electrical motors (as used in most modern drone designs) the jet-engines can output significantly more power. Furthermore, diesel fuel which is readily available anywhere in the world has 40-times more energy density then conventional Lithium Polymer batteries and takes minutes to refuel instead of hours that it takes to recharge batteries. When combined together, the product is a very compact and reliable drone that can go faster and carry more then any other drone of similar size.

 

Noise Levels and Pollution

It is obvious that four jet-engines will generate quite a lot of noise, so the current JetQuad drone is noisy - estimated about 120db if you are standing right next to it. However, there are several noise suppression technologies which are yet to be explored such as specially designed intake systems, exhaust systems, and active noise cancellation using onboard speakers. Future versions of the JetQuad will certainly be more silent thanks to these technologies, but for now the applications will be confined to those not requiring low-noise operation.

Besides the volume, noise-type plays an important role. For instance, low-RPM beating of helicopter blades is deemed more annoying to the human ear then the more uniform whistling of jet-engines. It is also worth to mention, that the engines in the JetQuad operate at a much higher RPM then quadcopters or helicopters (about 100,000rpm). The resulting high frequency sound is barely audible at short distances away from the drone - very fast sound dissipation in the atmosphere. In comparison, the low RPM of helicopters produces low-frequency sound that travels far and is audible miles away.

In the age of electrification, it is all too easy to ignore technology based on burning carbohydrates. However, it is important to mention that a turbine-based engine burns fuel much more efficiency than an internal combustion engine (ICE) as often used in propeller-based aircraft. This is due to the fact that the turbine combustion process is steady-state and runs at a lower average temperature then an ICE. As a result, there is significantly less Nitrogen-based pollution emitted into the atmosphere when comparing a turbine and ICE at identical fuel flow rates. Furthermore, because the microturbine engine works on any heavy fuel, the JetQuad, in theory, will run well on Biodiesel, which may be easily produced from waste. This is a critical capability, since industrial drones fueled by waste present a very attractive technology for long-term sustainability.