IPFS News Link • Drones
AIRBUS WANTS YOUR DELIVERY DRONE DESIGNS
• PopsciDrones today are inadequate. While the basics of simple unmanned flying machines are simple enough, if drones are going to revolutionize how people do anything, they'll need to do much more, within the basic confines of their design. So Local Motors, a Phoenix-based open-source manufacturing company, is partnering with Airbus to design a cargo drone for the future.
They're holding a contest, with submissions open until May 22nd. Voting on the entrees will begin on June 5th. Here are some of the requirements for the design:
Vertical takeoff and landing
At least one fixed wing, for flying like a plane
Must use between 4 and 10 rotors/propellers for lift and thrust
Weigh no more than 55 pounds when fully loaded
Maximum wingspan of 16 feet
Maximum length of 13 feet
No single part can be longer than 6 feet 6 inches, so that the parts can be broken up for transport
Must be able to carry an 11-pound cargo over 37 miles and a 6.5-pound cargo over 62 miles
Must have a payload bay with exact dimensions that can be reached from the bottom of the aircraft
Cruising speed must be at least 50 mph
Maximum speed can't be greater than 120 mph
Has to be powered by rechargeable batteries
Must be able to fly in sustained winds of 22 mph.
That's a lot of requirements, and there are more details at the contest page.