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Flying off-roader ‘Transformer’ shows military potential

By Alvin Uy
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May 19,2014

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What happens if you mate a Hummer and an Apache helicopter? Advanced Tactics Inc., a small aerospace company based in California USA recently released details about its AT Transformer vehicle technology and has completed its first driving tests of its demo vehicle. This AT Transformer technology is considered as the world’s first road going, vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft. Its patented AT Transformer technology combines the capabilities of a helicopter, such as the ability to take off and land anywhere that is paired with the off-roading capabilities of a 4×4 vehicle. Its first technology demonstrator, the AT Black Knight Transformer, had completed driving tests last December in Southern California and has also began doing test flights early this year.

Advanced Tactics began work on the AT Black Knight Transformer way back in 2010. It was designed for autonomous casualty evacuation and manned or unmanned cargo resupply missions. With its unmanned capabilities, it can be used in high-risk missions and has an interior volume comparable to a Blackhawk helicopter.

The AT Transformer uses engines with a direct drive connection to prop-rotors made from low-cost commercially available components and its structure is composed of modular parts that can be replaced on the field.

Just like an electric multicopter, the vehicle is stabilized and controlled by differential thrust between opposing sets of prop-rotors. This design is simple and robust, eliminating the mechanical complexity and cost of the articulated rotor system that stabilizes and controls a conventional helicopter and replacing it with a high-speed computerized feedback control system. Additionally, the configuration negates the need for a tail-rotor or engine transmission. It also has the ability to perform controlled engine-out flight in case of a critical component failure.

On land, its wheels are driven by an independent engine and transaxle for speeds up to 112 kph. It has been designed with aerodynamic enhancements to provide a payload capacity of over 453kg, or about five passengers, and cruise at air speeds of about 240 kph.

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