Kawasaki unmanned compound helicopter first flight

 

this press release has been automatically translated from japanesse to English with Google translator

https://www.khi.co.jp/pressrelease/detail/20201006_1.html

Successful flight test of unmanned compound helicopter "K-RACER"

October 06, 2020



Kawasaki Heavy Industries has succeeded in a flight test of the unmanned compound helicopter "K-RACER" at the Taiki-cho Multipurpose Air Park in Hokkaido.

We demonstrated the technology of a conventional helicopter with an unmanned tester aiming at high speed, which is technically limited, and in this test, we were able to confirm stable flight by autonomous control.

This machine is a special type of testing machine called a compound helicopter that has main rotors (4 m in diameter), main wings and propellers on both the left and right sides instead of the tail rotor, and the left and right propellers. Allows the torque associated with the rotation of the main rotor to be canceled and forward thrust to be generated. In addition, in forward flight, the main wing shares the lift, reducing the burden on the main rotor and enabling high-speed flight that cannot be achieved with conventional helicopters.
This machine was developed by the Aerospace Systems Company, and the power source is equipped with the supercharged engine of our motorcycle "Ninja H2R" by the technological synergy of the Motorcycle & Engine Company and the Technology Development Headquarters.

We have many delivery records of various helicopters, including the BK117 helicopter series, which is active as a firefighting / disaster prevention and doctor helicopter.
The results obtained in this test will be utilized for the development of VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) aircraft such as manned / unmanned helicopters and aircraft operation systems linked with various services. While aiming, we will continue to contribute to society through aviation technology, including the realization of the VTOL system in the future.