This is the crazy project that kept us busy lately at Quaternium: a hybrid electric+gas multirotor with range extender, inspired by Hybrid cars, such as BMWi3.
Our goal is to overcome the endurance limitations of an electric multicopter, while keeping the multirotor platform we are so enthusiastic about. This VTOL UAV has 2.5 hr estimated flight time with payload, and around 4 hours endurance otherwise.
These are the product specs:
HYBRIX 20
MTOW | 20.0 KG |
EMPTY WEIGHT | 11.3 KG |
PAYLOAD | 7.0 KG |
ENDURANCE (FULL LOAD) | 1.4 HR |
ENDURANCE (NO PAYLOAD) | 2.7 HR |
CRUISE SPEED | 80 KM/HR |
SIZE (MOTOR TO MOTOR) | 1350 MM |
Why are we working on this?
As you all know, the drone market is only starting. We believe there will be many more industrial applications emerging soon. With this new project, we seek to go beyond current technology limits and explore new possibilities of application.
What do you think about it? I’d love to hear your comments on this!
jlcortex
Comments
Very nice solution! Although wouldn't it be even more efficient to use a conventional helicopter that runs on a fuel engine? This saves the weight of the electric system and the losses in the generator and electric system.
So is there a particular reason to use the multiple rotors?
If I understand the description right, this does not make use of any batteries, just a gas engine producing direct dc current. This this in no way an hybrid vtol. It is simply a gas powered quadcopter.
I believe more in the real hybrid solutions as already shown with fuell cells and using hydrogen. This has achieved the longest REAL flight time so far in the industry.
if you want people to get on board, don't make misleading claims. Your video says 2.5h.
I find this concept really interesting, but now i'm not going to listen to a single further post on this project.
Nice!
Hybrids do work if you do it properly and know what you're doing. ;-)
Now it just needs a pusher prop for forwards flight to get the cruise speed up and even better range.
What's the expected retail if it goes on sale?
@rob it looks like the engine's output is around 1.62 Kw according to this page the u10 plus 80kv at 14s produces 5.5kg of lift just about right and draws 555w so a frame total of 2220w so not enough to power it all on it's own seems you would need at least a G29 or above to get enough power just to hover
Excellent design ! If you don't mind, what is the specs of the DC generator being operated by the engine ?
I'm guessing they extrapolated fuel burn rates.
I'm curious about the engine size they are using. I am guessing it's a Zenoah G26 or thereabouts, which would surprise me if it could lift that much weight?
I'm curious why have you only had 18 min max tested.
2.5 hours is a long way from there.
when, where, and how much?
p.s. don't go to kickstarter. ughhh
Rob, we have made only 2 flight tests at this moment, longest flight has been 18 minutes. please be patient, we are going to do a endurance flight as soon as possible.
All this numbers are estimations as i said
I try to explain than not all is possible, you can flight 4 hours if you use all the payload weight in fuel (probably only for a demonstration flight), 2.5 or 2.7 hours with medium payload (2 or 2.5kg) and 1,4 hours with maximum possible payload.
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