Drone Team Twente developed Phoenix for the 2021 UAS Challenge, where it received the Most Promising Team Award. The aircraft combines vertical take-off and landing with fixed-wing cruise flight.
Mission Profile
Phoenix was designed to carry a relief payload to locations without a usable runway. It can rise vertically, transition into forward flight, and cover distance more efficiently on its wings.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 1,400 × 2,000 × 180 mm (length × width × height)
- Propulsion: Five propellers in a hybrid VTOL layout
- Battery: 2.5 kg lithium-ion pack
Search & Rescue
Phoenix carried the team’s hybrid VTOL layout into a largely remote competition year. The lessons from its propulsion system and airframe fed directly into the aircraft that followed.