SBIR-STTR Award

Transcend Air Corporation is developing a VTOL prototype to meet a specific commercial operational objective – cost effective downtown to downtown city pair operations. We have identified a market opportunity of $20B in the US alone for this type of service, however no current air vehicle meets the economic and performance needs of this commercial mission. So, we are designing, testing, and building that solution. The initial design is around a turboshaft engine as that technology is readily available, certifiable, and economical. However, the overall drivetrain design includes a plan to update to an all-electric drivetrain in the future when that technology is truly ready. At the same time, the USAF has several mission profiles that could benefit from VTOL aircraft, that are best suited for leveraging such a commercial development to meet their specific needs. The commercial Vy-400 platform is designed to climb very rapidly vertically, fly horizontally very rapidly, and operate economically at ranges up to 400nm. The two most interesting missions for such an operational profile are MEDEVAC and small unit resupply. However, for these missions, a combination of both low altitude, high speed operation, and more automated operation are needed. Transcend Air Corporation proposes to work with Auburn University’s Vehicle Systems, Dynamics, and Design Lab (VSDDL) to develop flight control logic for both Nap-of-the-Earth (NOE) flight planning/operation and Simplified Vehicle Operation (SVO) schemes to allow either autonomous (resupply) or operation by non-pilots (such as combat medics) to support these unique military mission profiles while leveraging the parallel commercial development of the VTOL platform.

Transcend Air Corporation is developing a high-speed VTOL (HS VTOL) prototype to meet a specific commercial operational objective – cost effective downtown to downtown city pair operations. We have identified a market opportunity of $20B in the US alone for this type of service, however no current air vehicle meets the economic and performance needs of this commercial mission. So, we are designing, testing, and building that solution. The initial design is around a turboshaft engine as that technology is readily available, certifiable, and economical, and engine developments already under way (e.g. the GE T901) are expected to support increasing the cruise speed from 405 mph to 500 mph. In addition, the overall drivetrain design includes a plan for depot-level conversion to an all-electric drivetrain in the future when electric technology is truly ready. The USAF has several mission profiles that could benefit from high-speed VTOL aircraft, that are best suited for leveraging such a commercial development to meet their specific needs. The commercial Vy 400 platform is designed to climb very rapidly vertically, fly horizontally very rapidly, and operate economically at ranges up to 500 miles. The Air Force has identified a need for HS VTOL for Infiltration and Exfiltration of Special Operations Forces (SOF) and Equipment, Personnel Recovery (PR), Aeromedical Evacuation (AE), and Tactical Mobility (TM). For these missions, a combination of both low altitude, high speed operation, and more automated operation are needed. In Phase I, Transcend Air Corporation worked with Auburn University’s Vehicle Systems, Dynamics, and Design Lab (VSDDL) to develop flight control logic for both Nap-of-the-Earth (NOE) flight planning/operation and Simplified Vehicle Operation (SVO) schemes to allow either autonomous (resupply) or operation by non-pilots (such as combat medics) to support these unique military mission profiles while leveraging the parallel commercial development of the VTOL platform. For Phase II, we will continue this mission development by transferring the displays/controls and flight control laws into a portable ground station and 1/5th scale prototype and fly an actual demonstration mission with a non-pilot operator at the controls.