| VC-2 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Role | Multirotor, personal air vehicle |
| National origin | Germany |
| Manufacturer | Volocopter GmbH |
| First flight | November 2013 |
| Introduction | 2012 |
| Status | In development |
| Developed from | E-volo VC1 |
| Variants | Volocopter 2X |
The Volocopter VC2 is a German single-place experimental electric multirotor personal air vehicle that was built by Volocopter GmbH (formerly called E-Volo) of Bruchsal, Germany. [1]
The VC-2 is the second in a series of multirotor designs from the German company e-volo. The single-place, 16 motor, all-electric e-volo VC1 "Volocopter" was demonstrated on 21 October 2011. The VC2 is the next follow-on with 18 engines suspended around an aluminum truss frame that includes a center-mounted seat, battery, and Battery Management Unit. The proof-of-concept aircraft will be used to develop the E-volo VC Evolution 2P, a two-passenger enclosed volocopter with extended range and weight capabilities. [2]
The VC200 was demonstrated unmanned in November 2013 at an enclosed arena in Karlsruhe, Germany. [3] [4] [5] Two prototypes performed unmanned flight tests, with the first manned flight made on March 30, 2016, by Alexander Zosel. [6] [7]
Data from EAA, Manufacturer
General characteristics
| External image | |
|---|---|
 VC200 Video |
The Fédération aéronautique internationale is the world governing body for air sports, and also stewards definitions regarding human spaceflight. It was founded on 14 October 1905, and is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland. It maintains world records for aeronautical activities, including ballooning, aeromodeling, and unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), as well as flights into space.
On a helicopter, the main rotor or rotor system is the combination of several rotary wings with a control system, that generates the aerodynamic lift force that supports the weight of the helicopter, and the thrust that counteracts aerodynamic drag in forward flight. Each main rotor is mounted on a vertical mast over the top of the helicopter, as opposed to a helicopter tail rotor, which connects through a combination of drive shaft(s) and gearboxes along the tail boom. The blade pitch is typically controlled by the pilot using the helicopter flight controls. Helicopters are one example of rotary-wing aircraft (rotorcraft). The name is derived from the Greek words helix, helik-, meaning spiral; and pteron meaning wing.
A quadcopter, also called quadrocopter, or quadrotor is a type of helicopter or multicopter that has four rotors.
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A personal air vehicle (PAV) is a proposed class of passenger aircraft providing on-demand air transport.
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A multirotor or multicopter is a rotorcraft with more than two lift-generating rotors. An advantage of multirotor aircraft is the simpler rotor mechanics required for flight control. Unlike single- and double-rotor helicopters which use complex variable pitch rotors whose pitch varies as the blade rotates for flight stability and control, multirotors often use fixed-pitch blades; control of vehicle motion is achieved by varying the relative speed of each rotor to change the thrust and torque produced by each.
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Urban Air Mobility (UAM) is the use of small, highly automated aircraft to carry passengers or cargo at lower altitudes in urban and suburban areas which have been developed in response to traffic congestion. It usually refers to existing and emerging technologies such as traditional helicopters, vertical-takeoff-and-landing aircraft (VTOL), electrically propelled vertical-takeoff-and-landing aircraft (eVTOL), and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). These aircraft are characterized by the use of multiple electric-powered rotors or fans for lift and propulsion, along with fly-by-wire systems to control them. Inventors have explored urban air mobility concepts since the early days of powered flight. However, advances in materials, computerized flight controls, batteries and electric motors improved innovation and designs beginning in the late 2010s. Most UAM proponents envision that the aircraft will be owned and operated by professional operators, as with taxis, rather than by private individuals.
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Volocopter GmbH is a German aircraft manufacturer based in Bruchsal and founded by Alexander Zosel and Stephan Wolf. The company specializes in the design of electric multirotor helicopters in the form of personal air vehicles, designed for air taxi use. The CEO is Dirk Hoke and chairman Stefan Klocke.
The Volocopter 2X is a German two-seat, optionally-piloted, multirotor eVTOL aircraft. The personal air vehicle was designed and produced by Volocopter GmbH of Bruchsal, and first introduced at the AERO Friedrichshafen airshow in 2017. The aircraft is sold complete and ready-to-fly. Volocopter was formerly known as E-volo.
An electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft is a variety of VTOL aircraft that uses electric power to hover, take off, and land vertically. This technology came about thanks to major advances in electric propulsion and the emerging need for new aerial vehicles for urban air mobility that can enable greener and quieter flights. Electric and hybrid propulsion systems (EHPS) have also the potential of lowering the operating costs of aircraft.
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