“Cyclolets could be the flying cars of the future”: what kind of car was created in Siberia?

The idea of ​​a cyclocopter was first coined by Russian engineer Yevgeny Sverchkov more than a hundred years ago, at the beginning of the 20th century. At the same time, the design of a modern type of helicopter was proposed, but if during this time helicopters became widespread, the fate of cyclocopters was much more difficult, and even smaller prototypes of such devices did not become until the 21st century. subtract.

Artur Bilsky, Candidate of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Deputy Director of Research at the Institute of Thermal Physics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, where the cyclodrone was created, believes that the problem is not so much in creating the apparatus itself, but in developing it. A control system for this.

“Cyclocopters were able to fly primarily thanks to the development of aeronautical informatics – control systems that allow you to independently control several propellers. “Such a design is too complex to be controlled manually without electronics,” he said.

The Russian cyclodron flies using four symmetrically arranged cycloid propellers, similar to the wheels of a steamship. On the rims of each such wheel, the blades are fixed at a slight angle to the direction of rotation. The propeller mechanism allows these vanes to be set at different angles so they create lift in different directions or stay in neutral.

As a result, the propeller can not only generate thrust in any direction in the plane of rotation, but can also quickly change the direction of that thrust. To control flight, all four thrusters must be controlled simultaneously.

Bilsky said, “Balance of the thrust force between these propellers can only be done with an automatic control system so that the device remains stable in the air and does not fall to the side.”

The automatic control system determines where to direct the thrust vectors of the cyclodrone, for example, to fly forward. The system issues an instruction to each propeller control mechanism; with its help, the blades, moving in a circle, swing up and down cyclically, similar to the blades of a helicopter with a swash plate for this.

During one rotation of the wheel, the mounting angle of the blade changes. If it is necessary to fly up, the blade is mounted above the wheel and below the wheel – from it – to create thrust to the axis of rotation.

“It turned out that at one stage of propeller rotation, these blades create positive thrust at one mounting angle and negative thrust at the opposite installation angle on the other side of the propeller. Thus, the upper and lower wings can create thrust in the same direction.”

said Bilsky.

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Technician Technician/YouTube

As a result, the device is very agile thanks to the rapid thrust control, as the four independent thrust vectors allow for complex maneuvers. This is especially evident when landing. In tests, the cyclodron successfully landed not only on horizontal surfaces, but also on inclined and even vertical surfaces that helicopters could not afford. According to the scientist, the ability of cyclocopters to anchor on vertical walls may be of interest to firefighters, rescuers and special forces.

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Frozen frame animation of a cycloid propeller with mechanically controlled angle of attack

Wikimedia Commons

In theory, something similar to ordinary quadcopters could be “taught” if their propellers were placed in rotating gondolas. For example, the propeller can rotate the American V-22 Osprey tiltrotor, switching from airplane mode to helicopter mode and vice versa.

The Institute of Thermal Physics has not done such tests, but in Bilsky’s personal opinion the design of the rotary screw is too complex and large compared to a rotary propeller.

“Most likely, a significant amount of energy will need to be applied to turn a heavy spinning propeller. This will require powerful heavy mechanisms and every kilogram of weight is important for airplanes,” he said.

However, maneuverability is not the only advantage of the cyclolet. Its propellers are much quieter at the same thrust level than conventional propellers, which is important for passenger transport. Currently, there are many flying taxi projects in the world, and among these developments there are cyclolets. For example, in 2021 the Austrian company CycloTech Experienced 83 kg taxi prototype.

“In the West, surveys were conducted asking people about their attitude towards flying cars. They said that the main problem is the noise they will create. Silence is one of the main advantages of cycloplanes, as they have a chance to become flying cars of the future. In addition, if a helicopter needs a special platform, then the cyclone can land in the parking lot roughly speaking”

Bilsky explained.

The Cyclodron is a small battery-powered unmanned prototype. It weighs about 60 kilograms and can carry a load of up to 10 kilograms for 10 minutes in the air. The cyclodron was developed under a contract with the Advanced Research Foundation to demonstrate the technological possibility of creating such devices in Russia.

Now, on its basis, the Institute of Thermal Physics plans to develop a cyclocar, which is an analogue of air taxis with circular propellers created in the West and in other countries. According to the head of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the car should blow up in 2023. It will be manned and its take-off weight will reach two tons, which is enough for passenger traffic.