VTOL-UAV BASED ON THE AIRCRAFT WITH CIRCULAR ROTATING WING (ACRW) CONCEPT

The ACRW is a revolutionary new design of a high speed, VTOL aircraft with STOL and CTOL capabilities. The aircraft consists of a circular rotating wing (CRW) which is rotably mounted to the fuselage. The CRW has the shape of a specially designed disk, is free of aerodynamically active flight controls or propulsion members and provides lift for forward flight and gyroscopic stabilization of the aircraft attitude. The fuselage will house the payload and the propulsion and control means. We have researched the ACRW aerodynamic theory, performed design calculations, conducted wind tunnel tests and computer analysis of the flow about the CRW. The wind tunnel tests and the computer analysis show a significant increase in the lift over drag when the wing is rotating as opposed to the fixed wing. Recently we have built two radio-controlled models and successfully investigated some of the ACRW flight characteristics. Bostan Research, Inc. is proposing to demonstrate the ACRW feasibility as a high speed VTOL UAV by testing three radio-controlled flying models. We have already built two new models and a third will be built during Phase I R&D. The models will have an identical configuration and mode of operation as the proposed ACRW-UAVs. The test results and flying principles will be equally applicable to aircraft of larger or smaller sizes having different configuration and uses. The enhanced aerodynamic characteristics together with the wing gyroscopic stability and artificial stiffening due to centrifugal forces, could make the ACRW the first truly efficient, high speed VTOL aircraft.