NASA Puffin Low Noise, Electric VTOL Personal Air Vehicle

Conceptual design focusing on the ability of a redundant electric propulsion system to provide new capabilities for Vertical Takeoff and Landing aircraft. Specifically utilizing electric motor variable rpm to accomplish a low tipspeed prop-rotor (400 ft/sec tip speed at hover and 200 ft/sec at cruise) to accomplish an order of magnitude reduction in community noise for close proximity operations (30-40 db reduction). The variable rpm capability also achieves a 25% improvement in prop-rotor efficiency through operation at optimal advance ratios.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Electric
• VTOL
• Vertical
• Takeoff
• and
• Landing
• Aircraft
• NASA
• PAV
• Future
• Personal
• Air
• Vehicle
• Superman
• Suit
• Advanced
• Concept
• Rotorcraft
• Helicopters
• Distributed
• Aviation
• Gridlock
• Commuter

[ginofrater]

We have something better working already it is called HELICOPTER !!

[NASAPAV]

Really? Do you know what the Lift/Drag ratio is for a helicopter? Between 4 and 5 - incredibly inefficient devices. Do you know what the L/D of this aircraft is? At 100 mph it's 17.5, at 150 mph it's 14.5. So about 4x the aerodynamic efficiency. Do you know how complex a helicopter rotor is and why heli's are so expensive? The hub mechanism on this is incredibly simple and low cost. Sorry, not quite...

[mzungu54]

there is no lack of cool CG animation in aircraft design, specially in the VTOL category. :-) Putting electric, vtol, and a prone pilot position all in one vehicle in one go, sounds pretty risky to me....one at a time.... do a uav

[NASAPAV]

You are correct, it is much more difficult to attempt several changes all at once. But the electric completely changes the VTOL design, and has to be done in combination. Prone doesn't really complicate things in terms of integration - it really just becomes a comfort and pilot acceptance issue, and isn't a factor in the sub-scale R/C versions we are flying.

[LWJCarroll]

I suspect thatg during flight face down, holding your head up will cause a fatigue problem (sore neck) , hence a recumbent position for the pilot would be better.??...Laurie

[NASAPAV]

Pause the video at 1:35 into the video and you will see that there is an entire chest/shoulder/chin support - kind of watching TV while lying on your stomach and holding your head up with your hands. Certainly it is not ideal, but this vehicle is only meant for trips less than 30 minutes (and right now the batteries last about 15 min).

[nettmats]

Wow! It's very silent!

[bannanaman96]

Please make this

[HighrockTendales]

That would work brilliantly, If it was permanently plugged into the mains.

[distractionxx]

brilliant video

[bigskip2121]

Not gonna work practicably. The weight of batteries alone for this thing will be about the same as a jet and fuel. The range with that weight will probably give you about enough distance to go to the coffee shop and back, before the bunny stops banging the drum! Cool concept but not feasible.

[SeaSpider69]

iv been looking for this software....were can i find it??????????please help!!!!!

[teopini]

Fantastic! I'm specially keen of how it comes back to landing position, it works just like a pendulum! Instead of stalling at low speeds, the center of gravity, which is in the tail, does its work and gradually raises the rotors to keep lift. Congratulations to whoever thought this out, it's very simple and creative. The only weird thing is how the cockpit is set up: looks rather uncomfortable and neck-aching.

[callous21]

So when will I be taking that to work

[jamesfly23]

I want one

[circusboy90210]

@jasonharville1 nasa probably has access to far higher tecnology than those of a mere cordless drill.

[ClaviculaNotoria]

@NASAPAV V22 Osprey.