Aerial Commuter Architecture Using Slung Loads

Evading traffic congestion by personal flying vehicle is still a far fetched dream. Recent advancements in predicting divergence speeds of slung loads using the Continuous Rotation Method (CRM) of airloads measurement has made is possible to obtain complete aerodynamic load maps of objects. In turn this enables on-the-fly system identification and dynamics predictions to ensure safety and smooth rides with slung loads. A concept is proposed for an air-lift service which can transport people with their personal road vehicles over congested areas. QFD and OEC analyses are used to compare different VTOL options for such a system. A pure conventional helicopter with internal or external carriage, a quadrotor, a lighter-than-air (LTA) platform with a quadrotor, and an LTA with cycloidal rotors are compared. The last two are found to be feasible, with only the LTA-cycloidal meeting all requirements when downwash and noise constraints are imposed. A streamlined carriage concept with aerodynamic control surfaces is suggested. A HUMVEE is used as an example where aerodynamic load mapping has been done, and the data used in predicting dynamics. This shows how to estimate the speed constraints to keep oscillations below specified levels, and verify the safety of the flight envelope.