AirShip Technologies Group 1
Value Proposition
Phase 1 – Vehicle design and preliminary prototype analysis of endurance trade-offs
Phase 2 – Verification of flight control (theory, simulation, and VTOL UAV demonstration)
AirShip VTOL UAV Transformer
Long Endurance Vertical Takeoff and Landing
Benjamin.Berry@comcast.net 503 320-1175
www.AirShipTG.org
Reinvent the Future!
Phase 3 – Dual-Use Commercialization and Certification
AirShip Wins Linus Pauling
Award
AirShip Technologies Group won the Win2011 Linus Pauling Innovative Company of the Year award with their entry of the AirShip VTOL
UAV Transformer known as “AirShip Endurance V5.” Fellow innovators from around the Pacific NW region met at the Willamette
Innovators Summit for an evening of networking and collaboration. Cutting-edge research, commercialization efforts from Oregon State
University and exhibits from over 50 leading businesses were represented within the area. The event featured industry leading speakers
and success stories from the region’s star entrepreneurs. Ben Berry, CEO of AirShip Technologies Group, demonstrated the prototype
AirShip VTOL UAV. November 10, 2011
16.0
60.0
Span (Inches) at Rest
60.0
108.0
Span (Inches) at Flight
8
Tip Chord (Inches (trap)
0.366
0.228
Taper Ratio (trap)
1.708
6.865
Aspect Ratio (gross)
207.4
1,128.0
Area (Sq. Inches) (gross)
V-WING TAIL
WING
AIR/VEHICLE Critical
Dimensions
16.0
60.0
Span (Inches) at Rest
60.0
108.0
Span (Inches) at Flight
8
Tip Chord (Inches (trap)
0.366
0.228
Taper Ratio (trap)
1.708
6.865
Aspect Ratio (gross)
207.4
1,128.0
Area (Sq. Inches) (gross)
V-WING TAIL
WING
AIR/VEHICLE Critical
Dimensions
108.0
76.3
39.5
108.0
38.0
24.0 30.0
47.0
18.0
24.0
“AirShip Endurance
V9” Critical Dimensions
Special Operations Transport - USAF Research Lab Submittal November 14, 2011
Team Members
AirShip Technologies Group
Ben Berry
Innovation Program Leadership, Aerospace and
Defense, and International Airport Operations,
Government Transportation Industry
Puneet Kukkal
Engineering Management, Analysis and Planning,
Business Strategy
Benny Berry
Aerospace and Defense, Aeronautical
Engineering, Consulting and Prior Tuskegee
Airman Military Pilot
Gerald Baugh
Economic Development, Business and Operations,
and Current Pilot
B _ ____
y
P ___ l
G__ ___ ___
Red Tails
(2012) HD
Movie Trailer
Priyanka Kukkal
Defense Systems, Engineering and Operations,
Government Industry, Isensepro, Inc.
Mark Van Patten
Engineering & Business Management, Human-to-
Machine Interface Systems, Oregon State Univ.
Mike EOM
Operations & Technology Management,
Computing & Engineering, University of Portland
Yew-Seng Tan
VTOL Aircraft Engineering, Technology
Management
____________________
Team Members
P l
___________________
y
_ ______ y
AirShip Technologies Group
AirShip Technologies Group 6
Functional Organization Chart
• Privately owned
• Board of Advisors
advise CEO
• Academic/
commercial
partnerships
• Air/vehicle
design and
manufacturing
AirShip Technologies Group 7
Skill Sets
– Aeronautical design
– Functional design
– System analysis
– System architecture
– System construction
– Technical writing
– Project management
Academic/Commercial Partnerships
Academic
Commercial
• Operations & Technology Management
• University Internships Team
• Workflow Accountability
• Business, Science and
Engineering Programs
X-Hawk
Yes Yes
Wood propeller; fixed Modified ducted-fan
AirShip Technologies Group 8
The Tactical Problem
Major hurdles are faced by military
ground troops:
• Ground and air transportation
remain effective but have separate
modes of operation..
• Warfighter needs to avoid water,
difficult terrain, road obstructions,
improvised explosive devices (IEDs)
and ambush threats.
• Need air platform with high flight
endurance and capable of driving
on prepared surfaces, light off-
road conditions or rough terrain,
while pilotless flight functionality
employs VTOL (vertical take off
and landing) ability and cruising
up to 10,000 feet above ground.
• Small launch and land footprint.
Lockheed Martin's Ducted-Fan Design
Carter Aviation Technologies‘ AAI's Design
Vertical Take Off & Land
VTOL Production
The Challenge:
Build an Air-to-Ground VTOL UAV
AirShip VTOL UAV Transformer Design
Israel Air Force X-Hawk
AirShip Technologies Group 9
SBIR Air Platform Objective: Design and test a Tier 2
sized long-endurance VTOL UAV. Show how the design can be scaled and identify
critical size/weight/endurance limits. Design control algorithms for all flight regimes.
PHASE I: Vehicle design and preliminary analysis of endurance trade-offs. (9 months)
Propose control strategy for hover and transition regimes. Determine implementation and
demonstration plan. Initial demonstrations of key technologies and pre-prototype air/vehicle.
PHASE II: Verification of flight control design performance (simulation/demos. (18 months)
Final prototype air/vehicle built and flight tested with accompanying analysis of safety, noise
level, robustness to disturbances, failure modes, scalability, and endurance tradeoffs.
PHASE III: Dual Use Commercialization and FAA Certification. (12 months)
Military and Commercial Dual Use Application: Work with marketplace to develop VTOL /
UAV manufacturing capability for air/vehicles of record in markets for the military, homeland
security, hazardous material monitoring, crop inspection, search, rescue, and commercial.
Critical Dimensions
Mission Cycles without
Refueling
Cycle 1. Ship to Shore Insertion
Manually drive 30 miles
To unload site
Fly 110 miles Fly 110 miles
Vertical
Take off
Cycle 3. Special Operations Forces Resupply
Load supplies
At staging base
Land back at
staging base
Land - Drive
Drop off
Vertical
Land
Fly 120 miles to shore
Drive 130 miles
Reserve
10 min
Vertical
Take off
Depart ship based
Staging area
Land at area of
operation
Reserve
10 min
Vertical
Land
Fly 60
miles
Fly 60
miles
Vertical
Take Off
Cycle 2. IED Avoidance
Drive
30 miles
Avoid IED
Zone
Scout or
Patrol
Reserve
10 min
Vertical
Take Off
Vertical
Land
Drive 100
miles
Drive 20 miles
to Injured Soldier location
Fly 120 miles Fly 110 miles
Vertical
Take off
Cycle 4. Medical Evacuations
Depart stage area
in response to
Emergency Call
Land at
medical facility
Land - Drive
Pickup - Recover
Reserve
10 min
AirShip Technologies Group
11
Drone
Diverse Market
Requirements
DARPA – US Army
• AirShip Endurance V17
• 4 troops
• Resupply
• Medical Evacuation
• 17 ft long by 16 ft span
• 1,200 lbs. payload
• Endurance: 5 hours USAF – Research
Lab
• AirShip Endurance V9
• Special Operations
Transport
• 2 troop transport
• 9 ft long by 9 ft span
• 1,000 lbs. payload
• Endurance: 10 hours
USAF – SBIR
• AirShip Endurance V5
• Reconnaissance
• Surveillance
• 5 ft long by 3.5 ft span
• 70 lbs. payload
• Endurance: 72 hours
Dual-Use
• AirShip Endurance V2
• Reconnaissance
• Surveillance
• 25“ long by 17.5” span
• 4.4 lbs. payload &
total weight
• Endurance: Persistent
Surveillance
AirShip VTOL Transformer
Delivers
• Focus on innovation and technology
development and manufacturing.
• Integrates management of VTOL UAV
design, construction, test and dual-use
commercialization.
• Partners with engineers and scientists
in air/vehicle design and development. .
• Forges academic/commercial
partnerships aligned with University
engineering and operations degree
programs that create high-tech skills.
• Enables future generation of family-
wage jobs through the employment of
people and technology.
Internal Components View
Aerial Components View
AirShip Technologies Group
AirShip Technologies Group 14
• Ducted fan rotors are twin rotors that spin in opposite
directions on a single post. The contra-rotating blades cancel
out each other's torque effects so the AirShip doesn't need a
tail rotor. This makes the aircraft easier and safer to fly at
treetop height. Eliminating the need for a vertical tail rotor and
an associated electric drive system reduces the vehicle's profile,
while the pivot up rear rotor assembly provides forward thrust.
• Agility. AirShip VTOL turns by changing the pitch angle of its
lateral upper and lower rotor blades to different degrees. At a
hover in mid-air, the more sharply pitched of the two rotors
develops more lift and absorbs more power than its
counterpart, creating a powerful, instant torque effect that
snaps the fuselage around in the direction the UAV wants to go.
lateral ducted fan rotor assemblies and a rear V-Wing horizontal stabilizer tail. The low-
aspect ratio wings extend upon take-off. During ground transit, the AirShip Endurance V17
is 10 feet wide conforming to the demands of ground traffic and terrain.
Slide forward and
aft hydraulic
doors
AirShip VTOL/UAV Transformer
Characteristics. During air transit, the vehicle is 17 feet
long by 16 feet wide with approximately half of the width taken up by
AirShip Technologies Group 15
AirShip VTOL/UAV Transformer
Flight Control and Flight Management
• Designed as an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), AirShip Endurance is
dispatch able for downed airman recovery, or evacuating injured
personnel from difficult to access locations, or hovering surveillance.
• An autopilot system flies the aircraft for effective AirShip unmanned
operations. Using automated controls and flight-management systems,
AirShip Endurance is suitable for operations in built-up areas that allow
the aircraft to counteract inevitable human errors which make war zones
so dangerous.
AirShip Technologies Group 16
Airframe and Drive Train
• Similar to those found in race cars and fixed wing aircraft, the airframe weighs
a scant 375 pounds and can support 3,200 pounds gross weight.
• Critically developed electric in-motor ground wheels, brakes, suspension and
steering systems are specified for adaptation to the chassis.
• Exterior fuselage panels are made of composites.
• Ground transit, electric in-motor wheels
hold tires in place, vastly simplifying the
all wheel drive and drive-by-wire system.
• The wheel configuration and transit drive
system enable the driver to maneuver all
three or alternatively four wheel
configuration for handling and steering.
• For air transit, the ground wheels are
partially retractable into the airframe. Airframe View
AirShip VTOL/UAV Transformer
AirShip Technologies Group 17
Cutaway View
Components
• The backbone airframe and fuselage have a strong reinforced underbody that
is ridged but light weight, while the upper body panels are assembled as
independent components. The vehicle’s upper frame is designed as an
integrated roll bar structure and acts as a pivot for the hydraulic slide
forward/aft door configuration.
• Four-seat cabin forward positioning allows for full views of instrumentation
controls and changing canopy views during both air and ground transit. Mid-
positioned passengers have a commanding view of front and lateral scenes
through the front heads up canopy and door window views.
• The cutaway view shows the aggregate
assembly of the backbone frame, the
titanium reinforced and composites
underbody, and the upper frame.
• Interior and exterior sub-components
are installed in each of 4-piece
assembly phases.
AirShip VTOL/UAV Transformer
AirShip Technologies Group 18
Air and Ground Transit
• AirShip VTOL’s design answers the search for a viable air/ground transport
vehicle that combines the short hop virtuosity and speed of a helicopter with
the convenience, economy and comfort of a high performance ground vehicle.
This AirShip VTOL UAV air/vehicle is designed to compete and survive on the
battlefield but also with other modes of road and cross-terrain transport.
• AirShip’s 1,000 lbs payload cabin is an extremely stable and rigid cell, designed
for maximum protection and fast deployment. Seen here is the undercarriage
airframe of the payload cabin nestled around ducted rotor housing.
AirShip VTOL/UAV Transformer
AirShip Technologies Group 19
Stationary View with Hydraulic Slide Door Extended
• Doors extend at rest and add to stability of
vertical lift transportation. Slide -forward
doors were chosen partly for safety reasons
as they are less prone to jam in a crash.
• Doors open fully to expose the payload bay
and allow for the most convenient entry
and exit.
AirShip VTOL/UAV Transformer
Performance
• Ground speed acceleration is specified at 65 miles/hour within 5 seconds while
traveling via an in-motor wheel drive train. The vehicle redlines at 80 miles per
hour while ground breaking to zero occurs from 60 miles per hour in 116 feet.
• Air speed climbs to 300 nautical miles per hour through a straight line path
while power is ported to six twin ducted rotor electric turbine fans.
• From the lateral view, the AirShip is aerodynamic and hides the forward turbine
assemblies while showing detail of the curved fuselage, rear V-Wing
tail and canard supports.
In-flight Extended Low-Aspect Ratio Wings
Vertical Take-Off, Hover and Landing
AirShip Technologies Group 20
• Three turbine assemblies supporting twin counter rotating turbines on either side
plus twin counter rotating turbines in the rear, help support this unique configuration
while ensuring stability. Lift stability is maintained by the electric turbine fans during
vertical operation when absence of horizontal airspeed would normally render
control surfaces ineffective.
• Ground transit wheels and wheel shields
retract into the vehicle’s fuselage
during air transit.
Aerodynamics
• Aerodynamics. The AirShip employs a wide aerodynamic frame, with twin canards
retractable from the fuselage just forward of the cockpit, and side integrated low-aspect
ratio retractable wings set mid-range to rear on the aircraft’s mid-section.
• A top rear wing serves as an angled V-Wing tail section where two in-set winglets rise
to a 45-degree position. Together, the two tail winglets serve as stabilizers in flight and
recline at ground transit.
AirShip VTOL/UAV Transformer
AirShip Technologies Group 21
Multibladed Rotor Turbines
• AirShip’s rotors are multibladed turbines set inside a coaxial duct or cowling,
also called a ducted propeller or a shrouded propeller, although in a shrouded
propeller the ring is usually attached to the propeller tips and rotates.
• The duct serves to protect the blades from adjacent objects and to protect
objects from the revolving blades, but more importantly, the duct prevents
radial air flow leakage at the blade tips thus maximizing thrust.
AirShip VTOL/UAV Transformer
* For AirShip’s lateral ducted turbines, changing the pitch angle of its upper and lower rotor blades to different degrees
controls yaw during hover. The more sharply pitched of the two rotors develops more lift and absorbs more power than its
counterpart, creating a powerful, immediate instant torque effect that snaps the fuselage around in the direction specified.
AERILONS CONTROL ROLL
RUDERS CONTROL YAW
CANARDS, ELEVATORS & EMPENNAGE
V-WING CONTROL PITCH REAR TURBINE CONTROLS PITCH
PITCH ANGLE OF LATERAL UPPER &
LOWER BLADES CONTROL YAW*
PITCH ANGLE OF ONE LATERAL
TURBINE’S UPPER & LOWER BLADES
CONTROL ROLL
AirShip Fixed Wing Flight Control AirShip Hover Flight Control
*
AirShipVTOL UAV Drone
with Electric Persistent Endurance
V2 and V5
AirShip Technologies Group
Turbo Shaft to
Turbine Gear Drive
Exhaust
Compression
Anterior View
3-to-4 wheel,
Air-to-
Ground
Transit
Transformer
5 - 30 Hp
Turbo Shaft
Engines (2)
10 - 200 lbs
Thrust
Front View
Composite
Frame
Clear
Space
Master
Electric Power
Generator
Lithium-ion Battery
Rechargeable Fuel
Packs
(4) Electric In-Motor
Wheel Drivetrain and
Power Generator
Assemblies for Ground
Transit and Electric
Propeller Power
Top Mid Air
Intakes
Power Circuit Unit
PCU (Controller for Electric
Wheel Generators, Electric
Engines & Master
Generator)
Lateral Tri-
Fan Turbine
Assembly (2)
Electricity
Synchronous
Rotor Drive
Horizontal to
Vertical 10 to
200 lbs Quiet
Air Thrust
Lateral View
Manual
Fold and Store
Low Aspect Wings
Solar Array Fabric
AirShipVTOL UAV Drone
Transformer with Hybrid Electric Air
Accelerator
V9 and V17
AirShip Technologies Group
Turbo Shaft to
Turbine Gear Drive
Exhaust
Compression
Anterior View
3-to-4 wheel,
Air-to-
Ground
Transit
Transformer
1,250 Hp
Turbo Shaft
Engines (2)
6,000 lbs Thrust
Front View
Titanium
Frame
Ceramic Tile Panel
Ballistics Protection
Liquid Fuel
Tank
Clear
Space
Master
Electric Power
Generator
Lithium-ion Battery
Rechargeable Fuel
Packs
(4) Electric In-Motor
Wheel Drivetrain and
Power Generator
Assemblies for Ground
Transit and Electric
Propeller Power
Top Mid Air
Intakes
Power Circuit Unit
PCU (Controller for Electric
Wheel Generators, Electric
Impeller & Master
Generator)
Lateral Tri-
Fan Turbine
Assembly (2)
Electricity
Fuel
Synchronous
Rotor Drive
Horizontal to
Vertical 6,000
lbs Quiet Air
Thrust
Lateral View
Fold and Store
Low Aspect Wings
AirShip Technologies Group 25
Dual Turbo Shaft Engines
• The MTU Turbomeca Rolls-Royce MTR390 is a turbo shaft developed for light
helicopter applications; provides variable speed capabilities and low fuel
consumption.
• Two engines installed near the front fuselage exterior with air scoop cooling.
AirShip VTOL/UAV Transformer
General characteristics
Type: Centrifugal Turboshaft
Length: 42.4 in (108 cm)
Diameter: 26.8 in (68 cm)
Dry weight: 372 lb (169 kg)
Components
Compressor: Centrifugal, 2 stage
Combustors: Annular
Turbine: 1 stage high pressure turbine, 2 stage
low pressure turbine
Performance
Maximum power output: 1465 shp
Overall pressure ratio: 13:1
Specific fuel consumption: 0.46 lb/shp-hr
Power-to-weight ratio:
AirShip Technologies Group 26
Dual Turbo Shaft Engines (TSE)
AirShip VTOL/UAV Transformer
• An electric start configuration links the TSE and electric motors
to bifurcated rotor drive shafts.
• Avionics, flight control system, sensors and in-motor wheels are powered by the
generator during air cruise flight and ground transit, respectively.
• Battery packs provide excess propulsion power and endurance operation.
• TSE’s power ducted fan rotors ensuring adequate cooling and aircraft stability.
• Charge Sustaining Strategy. Propulsion system charges batteries to a 100%
charge state to sustain flight endurance operation & quiet electric-only loitering.
Motor/
Generator
Fuel
Tank
Mechanical Shaft
Electric
Fuel
Velocity Engine
Exhaust
Compression
Rear
Ducted Air
Accelerator
Turbine
Lateral
Ducted Fan
Turbines
Turbo
Shaft
Engines
Starter
Battery
Pack
(Lithium-Ion)
AirShip Technologies Group 27
Persistent Endurance Power Train
AirShip VTOL/UAV Transformer
• An electric start configuration links the TSE and electric motors
to bifurcated rotor drive shafts.
• Avionics, flight control system, sensors and in-motor wheels are powered by the
generator during air cruise flight and ground transit, respectively.
• Battery packs provide excess propulsion power and endurance operation.
• TSE’s power ducted fan rotors ensuring adequate cooling and aircraft stability.
• Charge Sustaining Strategy. Propulsion system charges batteries to a 100%
charge state to sustain flight endurance operation & quiet electric-only loitering.
Electric
Velocity Rear Ducted
Electric
Turbine
Lateral Ducted
Electric
Turbines
Renewable
Solar Array
Electricity
Battery
Pack
(Lithium-Ion)
Starter
AirShip Technologies Group 28
AirShip VTOL Ground Transit
AirShip Vertical Take Off
AirShip VTOL UAV Configurations
AirShip VTOL with extended In-Flight Low-Aspect Ratio Wings
Troop
Transport
Medical
Evacuation
UAV
Resupply
- Transports 1-4 troops
- Pilotless UAV air transit
- VTOL operation to
forward operating bases
- Ground transit capable
- Transports Medic and up to
two injured troops
- Pilotless UAV transit
- Ground transit capable
- Transports supplies on demand
- 5-hour hover surveillance
- Autonomous landing and launch
with communications interruption
Rough Terrain
High Profile
AirShip VTOL/UAV Transformer
Road Profile
Flight Profile
ANTENNA
CONTROLLER
RECEIVER
BLAST
DETECTOR
FORMATION
LIGHT
ANTENNA
AVIONICS UNDER COOL
WARNING SENSOR
EXTERNAL PWR MONITOR
LANDING GEAR CONTROL
BATTERY CHARGER
PILOT STATIC PROBE UHF / VHF /IFF ANTENNA
EXT POWER
RECEPTACLE
LITHIUM-ION
BATTERY PACK
FUEL TANK
AIR IN-TAKE
AIR IN-
TAKE
INERTIAL
NAVIGATION
SYSTEM
TURBOSHAFT
ENGINE
ROTORS
PAYLOAD
CAGE
DIGITAL DATA COMPUTER
LOW ASPECT
WINGS
LANDING GEAR &
GROUND TRANSIT
V-WING
ACTUATOR
V-WING POSITION LIGHT (RH)
HI ANTENNA (LH)
RADAR
ANTENNA
(LH) & (RH)
ROTATING
V-WING
DUCTED FAN
ROTORS
HORIZONTAL
AERION
WHEEL SHIELDS
AirShip Technologies Group 30
Stage 1 -- Validation of the basic design and enabling
technologies. Leverages our relationships with our university partners and national lab
partners (to be defined), in order to validate major design elements and the roles of specific
enabling technologies in the basic design.
Stage 2. Construction of demonstration VTOL UAV aircraft
in select applications. Leverages our relationships with our partners in the
defense industry and our investors, in order to demonstrate VTOL Transformer's capabilities in
select applications.
Stage 3. Construction of a manufacturable prototype for
applications in select strategic market segments. Leverages
our relationships with our partners in the defense industry, our investors, federal government
agencies, and possible commercial customers.
Stage 4. Development of manufacturing systems,
corporate capacity, and markets.
Staged Commercialization Plan
AirShip Technologies Group 31
AirShip VTOL Plan and
Milestones
Phase I
Vehicle design and preliminary analysis of endurance trade-offs
Phase II
Verification of control design (theory, simulation, and demonstration).
AirShipTG Effort & Focus
UAV
Requirements
UAV Design UAV Construction UAV Assembly
Prototype
Air/Vehicle
AirShip
Reqts.
Initial
prototype
design
Refine to final
design, component
functional testng
Construction &
partial assembly
testing
Final assembly
subsystem checkout,
prepare to demo
Field
Air/Vehicle
Operational
concept
design
Track
traceability
Track traceability Track traceability Plan to transition
Monthly Schedule
M1 M2 M3 M4 M5 M6 M7 M8 M9
Phase III
Dual Use Commercialization
AirShip Technologies Group 32
AirShip VTOL Program Review
Technical Interchange Meetings (TIMs) scheduled on a regular basis and includes collaboration stakeholders.
Phase I Phase II
Technical Advisory
Task A: AirShipTG Vehicle Design and Integration
Task B: Critical UAV Enabling Technology Development
Monthly Schedule
M1 M2 M3 M4 M5 M6 M7 M8 M9
Phase III
Dual Use
Commercialization
AirShipTG Value Proposition
Product
• Air Platform Expansion. Expands air-to-ground VTOL UAV
mission capabilities and endurance
Target Market
• Military market first with future commercial application
AirShip Technologies Group
AirShip Technologies Group 38
Value Proposition
Contact: Ben Berry, CEO
AirShip Technologies Group
Benjamin.berry@comcast.net
18522 Anduin Terrace
Lake Oswego, Oregon U.S.A.
503 320-1175
There’s a familiar pattern in Reinvention: Rethinking answers
to problems lead to a new technology coming along to fill a
long-standing need. But as it becomes widely implemented,
questions arise over how best to use it and how it may affect
the rest of the World!
Ben Berry, CEO AirShip Technologies Group
Mission
Relevant
Fly-by-Wire
Drive-by-Wire
Capital
Investment
Unlock VTOL
Air-to-Ground
Innovation