据《简式防务》4月19日报道

RotorX（旋翼X）公司研制的6旋翼载重无人直升机样机在2021年2月5日至3月5日举行的“陆军远征勇士实验”（2021AEWE）演习进行了成功演示。该机名为Palledrone，全自主飞行，直径3.2米，设计载货45公斤、飞行8公里，装4.5公斤载荷时最远可飞行34公里，升起36公斤货物可持续5分钟，满载45公斤载荷可飞行5分钟。Palledrone最大承载能力目标为68公斤，目前已经试验到48公斤载荷，集成组装需要7分钟，飞行路径程序规划需要7分钟。该机为6旋翼冗余设计，4台电动机即可作业飞行，有2台作为备份，电动机可卡入位，起落装置可折叠伸缩。

Update: RotorX demonstrates Palledrone heavy-lift UAV at US Army AEWE

by Pat Host 19 APRIL 2021，JANES

RotorX has developed a fully autonomous heavy-lift unmanned hexacopter called the Palledrone that participated in the last two US Army Expeditionary Warrior Experiments (AEWEs).

The Palledrone is a 3.2 m diameter autonomous resupply aircraft in the prototyping stages that is designed to carry up to 45 kg of cargo 8 km, and loads under 4.5 kg as far as 34 km. The aircraft can lift a payload of 36 kg for five minutes, and can fly with a full 45 kg payload for five minutes.

Jeremy Epps, RotorX co-founder, told Janes on 6 April that the company is looking to increase the Palledrone’s payload capacity to 68 kg. RotorX, he said, has tested the Palledrone carrying about 48 kg.

RotorX’s Palledrone autonomous heavy-lift unmanned hexacopter. The company is looking to increase the aircraft’s payload capacity to 68 kg. It has tested the Palledrone carrying about 48 kg. (RotorX)

RotorX designed the Palledrone for set-up within seven minutes. The Palledrone’s motors are designed to snap into place while the aircraft has foldable and retractable landing gear. After assembly, a user would only have to programme the aircraft’s flight path to be flying the Palledrone within seven minutes.

The Palledrone’s six-rotor design provides redundancy in case of motor failure as Epps said the aircraft can fly with four motors. This was tested at AEWE 2021, which took place from 5 February to 5 March at Fort Benning in Georgia. Dmitry Bershadsky, RotorX lead engineer and CEO, told Janes on 6 April that the aircraft lost an arm during the event and that the RotorX team did not have enough spares to replace it.

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