If Elephants or Alligators Could Fly

Without a doubt, the world would be a more ‘interesting’ place. With a slight twist on that same concept, Urban Aeronautics has announced completion of the first phase of flight testing of the company’s Airmule single-engine, vtol cargo and medevac drone (formerly the Mule). The tests confirmed the vehicle’s ability to effect autonomous hovers, with its fly-by-wire control system providing the necessary autostabilisation in all three rotational axes. Vehicle control is through a four-channel, redundant system developed by Urban Aeronautics, with altitude measured by two laser altimeters. 460 channels of telemetry data are provided to ground-based operators in real-time, allowing them to monitor the Turbomeca Arriel1 730-hp turboshaft engine and its subsystems. The hover height of 60 cm (just outside the ground effect for this configuration) allowed testing of the vane control system, proving its as yet limited ability to perform high-precision hovers in gusty wind conditions. The internal rotors and six-degrees-offreedom mobility of the Airmule, as well as with the company’s other models, make these aircraft well suited to operate in urban areas and other obstructed environments.