Core77
e
E-Volo Multicopter Completely Rethinks Helicopter Design
By Rain Noe - Nov 08, 2011
The E-Volo Multicopter, which made its first human-piloted test flight just a few days ago, has a brilliant design that paradoxically seems complex but is in fact more simple than current helicopter designs. At first, having sixteen rotor blades seems needlessly complicated, but that's where the brilliance comes in: Each is powered by a motor with one range of motion and one job, which is to rotate in place. A traditional helicopter's large rotor spins but also needs to pitch in order to move the craft in a particular direction; that adds a degree of mechanical complexity and an extra potential failure point.
The E-Volo, on the other hand, can pitch by varying the speeds of its various rotors to create differing degrees of lift. Software and onboard computers translate the pilot's motion of the joystick into the required adjustments, vastly simplifying demands on the pilot. Indeed the controls look less like a fighter jock's cockpit and more like the controls to Ms. Pac Man.
I find the E-Volo's overall design particularly clever because it rethinks the helicopter completely, relying on the innovations of our time—software and computers—to enable a level of mechanical simplicity that should theoretically make maintenance (and learning to fly the thing) relatively easy. After all, we've been using and repairing simple electric motors that drive a single rotating shaft in everything from fans to sewing machines for roughly a century.
As for safety, the E-Volo team points out that the craft can continue to fly even if up to four motors fail (presumably spread among the four wings) and that the craft could theoretically be rigged with a parachute, as there are no obstructions over the center of the craft.
After watching the video, I think an added benefit—I'm just making an educated guess here—is that after landing you can detach that rubber ball and do Pilates. Pretty awesome.
Be sure to click over to the Design Studies section of E-Volo's website to see some of the bugged-out early concept work.
Rain Noe
Rain Noe is a writer and industrial designer based in New York City.
5 Comments
-
Why is the ball there? Well look at the shot of the 'copter on the ground - it makes pretty good, cheap, effective bit of landing gear. Much simpler than a bunch of springs and struts and doohickeys.!Report as spam
-
it's really awesome, but why is the ball down there?!Report as spam
-
yeah, they really need a proper logo as well!!Report as spam
-
hello? mcfly? hello? software bugs will fucking kill you. think about it.!Report as spam
-
incredible. You should have a contest to design the chassis. I'd draw one up, just for kicks. How about putting yourself inside the ball, instead of sitting on top?!Report as spam
Continued Reading
-
By Sara Jacobson - Nov 07, 2011
Guggenheim's First App: Maurizio Cattelan Retrospective
All, an unconventional retrospective of artist Maurizio Cattelan opened at the Guggenheim in New York on November 4, and with it, appropriately, the museum released its first mobile application to support the exhibition. Although a little late to the app game (with Google, galleries, and other museums paving the way),...
-
By Rain Noe - Nov 07, 2011
Why Mount Six Cell Phones on a Bicycle's Handlebars? Here's Why
Now that cameras have become smaller and cheaper, it makes sense that cadres of creatives would begin using arrays of them to achieve previously unavailable effects. Recently we've seen Jonas Pfeil's amazing throwable panoramic ball camera and the 30 GoPro rig whipped up by Time-Slice and Rip Curl.The latest innovation...
-
By Mark Vanderbeeken - Nov 07, 2011
Wiring 1.0 released
Wiring is an open source electronics prototyping platform composed of a programming environment (IDE), an electronics prototyping board, documentation thoughtfully created with designers and artists in mind and a community where experts, intermediate and beginners from around the world share ideas, knowledge and their collective experience.And version 1.0 has just...
-
By Ray Hu - Nov 04, 2011
Good Weather App: Kickstart a More Useful Forecast with "Dark Sky"
Adam Grossman and Jack Turner are a couple of "mild-mannered web / mobile developers" based in Troy, New York, who collaborate as Jackadam. If their Kickstarter pitch is any indication, their choice of adjectives is appropriate:Their Kickstarter project, "Dark Sky," is a new kind of weather app that promises military-grade...
K
{Welcome
Create a Core77 Account
Already have an account? Sign In
By creating a Core77 account you confirm that you accept the Terms of Use
K
Reset Password
Please enter your email and we will send an email to reset your password.
