Top Innovation from Karlsruhe

"Volocopter" demonstrates dynamic flight properties

The Karlsruhe-based company “e-volo” conducted test flights with the Volocopter at higher altitudes and speeds at a special test flight area in july 2016. The “Volocopter VC200” is a vertical takeoff aircraft for two passengers that uses electric propulsion only.

The first manned flight took place in Bruchsal near Karlsruhe this year at the end of March. During the test flight program conducted in Bavaria in June, the “Volocopter” demonstrated various dynamic flight maneuvers at higher speeds for the first time. These test flights did not only serve as a presentation of possible flight dynamics. The actual goal was to gain important knowledge in order to optimize the current developments of the new prototype for serial production. This included determining the “VC200’s” power requirements during different flight maneuvers and at different speed levels.

In order to evaluate the limits of flight behavior, the positioning and height automation, as well as the flight maneuver limits were deactivated during some tests. One significant advantage of the “Volocopter” is its ability to be operated unmanned.

This allowed the “e-volo” development team to fly the new aircraft from the ground via remote control with a special permit during the test flights. The flight characteristics can be predetermined by altering the parameters in the control software. The goal is to program the future series-produced “Volocopter” as a sporty and agile aircraft while also preventing unsafe flight maneuvers, no matter how aggressively the pilot operates the joystick. Based on the evaluation of the data gained during the flight tests, e-volo can now optimally decide on the next steps in the further development and test flights. (ps)

Infos: “Volocopter VC200”, dynamic performance (unmanned) flight tests VIDEO

https://youtu.be/w1UXRkCsyKg