Long Endurance Vertical Takeoff and Landing Tier 2 Size UAV

ABSTRACT: MLB Co is leading a team that includes industry and university partners to deliver a VTOL vehicle that can perform long endurance missions in accordance with the Air Force requirements for Tier 2 class vehicles. Maximum mission flexibility requires that small UAVs be able to operate anywhere without requiring significant launch and recovery equipment. MLB's V-Bat VTOL design offers operational convenience with the safety of a shrouded fan and with fixed wing duration in a small UAV system that will revolutionize the availability and utility of local situational awareness for UAV operations from confined areas. Phase 1 design studies will be transformed into flight hardware that demonstrates the physical performance that was predicted. Design work will continue, as refinements are driven by incremental flight demonstrations, until the software supports fully autonomous operation in demanding environments, and the hardware delivers aerodynamic and propulsive capability that enables VTOL and the payload, speed and endurance required for Tier II missions. VTOL and endurance capability will be demonstrated both with a small electric V-Bat vehicle and a heavy-fuel powered vehicle suitable for the Tier 2 mission. BENEFIT: The V-Bat's combination of VTOL operational convenience, with the safety of a shrouded fan and with fixed wing duration, in a small UAV system, will revolutionize the availability and utility of local situational awareness for UAV operations from confined areas. The opportunity for this vehicle class is substantial and diverse, both for military and commercial applications, and the need is immediate. The proposed activity will produce a fully functional autonomous vehicle and ground operator environment that will serve as a complete prototype for a commercial product.