Moller International was requested to determine if it could integrate its vertical take off and landing (VTOL) technologies into a vehicle that would be more car-like than its Skycar® or Neuera™ vehicles. Operation of this new vehicle would be primarily on the ground and on conventional roadways, but its novelty would be to have the ability to “pop-up” out of traffic and fly to a near-by, less crowed street. This scenario was given and the legalities were dismissed, therefore we were free to design a vehicle with the appeal of a modern roadster and the combined road-and-airborne capabilities of a volantor.

For the initial design phase of the autovolantor we chose to use the Ferrari 599 GTB for the basic fuselage. It has the general shape and layout we were looking for and using it allowed us to quickly modify a readily available scale model and run wind tunnel tests to establish the technical feasibility of the project. At first we were very skeptical that we could adapt a ground-vehicle with our VTOL technologies and make it work, but the model allowed us to quickly verify that it could in fact be done. For a final design we would, however, start fresh and design an entirely unique body, but for the first cut, the Ferrari 599 GTB had the front and rear decks that could accommodate our engine mounting requirements.

The timeline for development of the vehicle was analyzed and we estimated that we could produce a prototype-flying vehicle in less than 2 years given sufficient funding. The budget was determined to be approximately $3 million. The party that was initially interested had some reservations about providing the estimated development costs, so we are on-hold with this project at this time.

Once fully developed and tested, the autovolantor could be produced for far less than the prototype’s $3M price tag.

PRACTICALITY

We believe that it is much more likely that something like our M400 Skycar (a roadable aircraft) could play a significant role in future transportation than a short-flight-duration flying car like the autovolantor. Still there may be some segment of the market that dreams about the ability to “hop out of traffic” that this autovolantor provides and find it a highly desirable solution to their transportation needs. The fun part of this is that it is possible...now we just have to wait and see if someone wants it badly enough to pay for its development.

TECHNOLOGY

The autovolantor is powered by eight fans mounted in the fuselage of the vehicle. On the ground it is powered electrically, like a series hybrid automobile. Speed and stability is controlled by a set of redundant computer systems. In the air speed and stability are controlled by a set of redundant computer systems. Small vanes in the exit area of the ducts can direct the air forward or back, or remain in the neutral position for vertical take off and landing. Since the vehicle is not aerodynamically stable until it reaches higher speeds, the control system constantly monitors the attitude of the vehicle and maintains stability just as it does for our other vehicles.

60% of the installed power is from state-of-the-art batteries while the other 40% is from rotary engines. For take off and hovering 670 hp is required, so auxiliary electric motors kick in and provide the additional hp for up to 90 seconds, the time required for take off and immediately land vertically in an emergency is less than 30 seconds. Allowing for a 20% reserve for engine failure, acceleration, and control, there is ~800 hp in total power available, 320 hp from engines and 480 hp from electric motors.

OPERATION

Ground speeds are projected to be up to 100 mph, and air speed would be about 150 mph. The calculated airborne range is 100 miles and ground range is 200 miles. Our analysis indicates a total fuel usage for its 300-mile range at 17 gallons (providing a 14% reserve), so for 100-mile flight plus 200 mile ground trip would result in 17.5 mpg, or for 10-mile flight plus 200 mile ground trip gives you 26.5 mpg. Range on batteries alone is 20 miles (assuming a 85% discharge). If the industry is able to double the battery energy storage capacity over the next two years (a goal of the GM Volt and other Hybrid automobile programs) it could extend the autovolantor's electrically powered ground range to 40 miles.

While maximum altitude for this vehicle could be much higher, the practical height limits for a short-flight-duration aircraft like the volantor are relatively low, and would probably be just above city buildings and well below other air traffic. Since the common operational altitudes of 2,500 feet or less are expected, this would eliminate the need for supplemental oxygen or cabin pressurization.

CONCLUSIONS

• A hybrid type two-passenger autovolantor is shown to be technically feasible
• Most efficient airborne cruise speed is 135 mph
• Minimum time to transition from take-off to cruise speed and immediately land is 22 seconds (90 seconds available)
• Maximum airborne range is 104 miles
• Fuel consumption during flight is 4.6 times higher than during ground travel
• 12 gallon fuel capacity provides 352 mile combined range (50 miles in air)
• Ground range on battery is 35.5 miles