Is it a bird, is it a plane? Yes, well, kind of. NASA has developed a new prototype aircraft, the GL-10, which can fly like a plane and hover like a helicopter. This could spell the end for dangerous runway landings, but bringing this innovation to market is not without its own difficulties. Keep reading to find out more about how Greased Lightning is set to revolutionise UAVs and their potential uses, or visit the Aldor Nini Facebook page for more.
Take to the Skies: Greased Lightning
Dubbed ‘Greased Lightning’ by its research team, the GL-10 cuts an impressive sight. With 8 electric motors attached across a 10 foot wingspan, and another two motors on the tail, the drone can take off vertically due to its tilt-wing design. Recently, this design was put through its paces, successfully completing a series of flight tests which will go some way to proving the concept behind the craft’s new approach.
A recent video showed off the drone’s capabilities. The craft hovered without any issues then took off, connected to a tether for safety. This model weighs 62lbs, but is half the size of the initially intended test drone which would have had a wingspan of 20 feet. It’s an incremental process, as David North, an aerospace engineer on the research team, stated in a recent interview with the Daily Mail: “We built 12 prototypes, starting with simple five-pound foam models and then 25lb, highly modified fibreglass hobby airplane kits”.
These early prototypes helped the research team solve technical issues, ensuring that each iteration was more refined than the last. It is hoped that the design can be scaled up further so that the drone can be manned, perhaps even carrying a large number of passengers in the future, therefore potentially having both military and civil applications.
Key Features of the GL-10
The 10 engines, which give the GL-10 its name, turn propellers to create lift, but unlike similar craft which use oil for power, this innovative machine uses hybrid electric diesel motors. The tilt wing design is what allows the craft to take off vertically and then move horizontally. Once elevated, the wings change position so that the propellers create forward momentum. This tilt shift design has been seen before, most famously in the V-22 Osprey craft, which has been in service for many years; but where the GL-10 differs is in its economy. It should be much cheaper to fly regularly due to its hybrid motor design.
Another key feature is the GL-10’s noise output. Researchers claim that it is as quiet as a standard gas-powered lawnmower. With such a low noise profile, smaller and larger versions may be suitable for jobs such as package delivery in residential areas – the kind of technology Amazon and other retailers are currently exploring.
With key features such as these, researchers are hoping to make the GL-10 a viable commercial project in the near future.
Controversy of Tilt Wing Designs
Although improvements in design are coming thick and fast with each revision, the development team at NASA still faces some hurdles to bring the GL-10 to market. There have been some issues surrounding the previous V-22 Osprey and its tilt wing implementation, for example, which is relevant to the GL-10 as it sports a similar design. It has been used since 2007, but there have been some legitimate concerns about its safety record. Air incidents have been rare, however ground malfunctions have been much higher.
Despite the above issues, the V-22 Osprey has remained in active use. The GL-10 is of course a much smaller craft, and if the suggestion that it could be used as a single person plane holds true, it could negate many of the issues seen in its much larger predecessor. In fact, the research team themselves have highlighted the poor record of the V-22, and that the biggest hurdle they have faced is making the tilt shift design work correctly. Thankfully, they believe that they have overcome this difficulty in recent test flights.
Whether the tilt wing design becomes a mainstream part of aviation remains to be seen, but there is no doubt that the NASA researchers have put it back on the table as something which has serious potential.
The Future of the GL-10
There is still much to be done, but the GL-10 has now had several successful test flights. Indeed, it will be used repeatedly at various events, showcasing its capabilities to interested parties. As well as the aforementioned delivery drone applications, it has also been suggested that the GL-10 could prove useful in other areas including long endurance surveillance where a drone must remain in the sky for a continued period. This could include mapping locations quickly, surveilling agriculture, and even for reaching inaccessible places more readily. Whatever the applications, this craft has the potential to be a real game changer.
Are you excited by this new drone technology? Do you think it could revolutionize aviation? Check back for more articles soon.
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