Why the CERCA-ROTOR® ?
On an efficient aircraft, every component serves a purpose throughout all the phases of the flight. And VTOL capability should no longer come at the expense of cruising efficiency and speed.
These compromises, among many others, still define today’s conventional designs : Tiltrotors and Lift + Cruise VTOLs.
Here are some of these limitations :
Tiltrotors
- Gyroscopic coupling effects
- Aerodynamic instabilities
- High mechanical vibrations
- High drag
- Heavy transition mechanics
- Inefficient control surfaces
- Sensitivity to wind gusts during transition
Lift + Cruise VTOL
- Extra weight and drag from lift rotors during cruise
- Limited payload and flight duration
- High sensitivity to wind gusts during hover
- Tilting the aircraft during transition
- Important footprint with exposed blades dangers
- Increased noise from multiple rotors
The CERCA-ROTOR® is a revolutionary cycloidal propulsion system that was designed to solve these problems. It has the ability of 360° thrust vectoring, which provides instant directional control, exceptional stability and seamless transition between vertical and horizontal flight.
Vertical take-off
Transition
Cruise
Total freedom in the air
This ability, combined with the enhanced aerodynamic efficiency, and all the necessary redundancies, enable really remarquable performances :
Smooth transition from hover to cruise without tilting the drone
Fixed-wing–like cruise efficiency, average speeds of 220 km/h.
In flight attitude change and hold, on demand.
Exceptional hover stability, even in strong crosswinds