ELSA-H UAV (concept design)
ELSA Industry
Bucharest, Romania
www.elsaindustry.eu
ELSA Industry was founded in 2020 in Bucharest, Romania. The company is in the business of engineering and manufacturing composite components and structures for lighter, more efficient aircraft. The company also designs and manufactures tools. In addition, ELSA Industry is now designing an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) and hybrid-electric VTOL heavy-lift air cargo drone for advanced air mobility (AAM). The drone will be designed to accept multiple power sources.
ELSA-H UAV heavy-lift eVTOL or hybrid-electric VTOL air cargo concept design drone
The ELSA-H UAV is an uncrewed heavy-lift eVTOL or hybrid-electric VTOL air cargo modular concept design aircraft. The company designed the drone to have an interchangeable payload bay and power trains. This allows easy loading and unloading of the cargo. It also allows the customer to choose from a variety of power sources based on the type of mission the drone. The ELSA-H UAV can be powered by all batteries, use hydrogen fuel cells or use a turbine engine to produce electricity for all the electrical needs of the drone. The power source module can be quickly switched even during a mission, if needed.
The aircraft has been designed for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLS) piloting, such as remote, pre-programmed, autonomous and artificial intelligence (AI) piloting. The aircraft will also know to return to base when it is low on power. Refueling has been made to be quick allowing little down time between flights.
The estimated cruise speed of the aircraft is 200 km/h (124 mph). The range of the drone will vary between 163-1,650 km (101-1,118 m), depending upon the power source. The length of the flight time will also be determined by the power source and the mission of the drone, such as air cargo transportation or surveillance service. The flight time has been anticipated to be in the range of 45 minutes to 7.3 hours. The flight time of the drone can be increased if solar panels are installed on the aircraft. The intended maximum cruise altitude is between 1,000-5,000 m (3,281-16,404 ft), depending upon the mission.
The calculated empty weight of the drone is 415 kg (915 lb), has an projected maximum payload weight of 250 kg (551 lb) and has a targeted maximum takeoff weight of 665 kg (1,466 lb). The cargo pod has environmental controls for pressure, temperature and humidity. The cargo space dimension is 2.5 m x 1 m x 0.8 m. Cargo will be easy to load and unload, according to the company. The aircraft also has attachment points for external sling load cargo. The cargo pod can be exchanged for extra energy sources, depending upon mission requirements.
The drone has four propellers mounted on two booms that parallel the fuselage. The front two propellers are located at the end of the booms and are tilt-propellers allowing VTOL and forward flight. The other two propellers are near the rear of the two booms and are stationary propellers used for only VTOL flight. The aircraft has four electric motors powering the propellers. The aircraft has one high main wing to extend the range of the aircraft. When in storage or when being moved by truck or another aircraft, the wings fold upward. The aircraft has a boom mounted tail with two vertical stabilizers and one horizontal stabilizer. The aircraft has fixed quadricycle wheeled landing gear. The drone is capable of landing on unprepared ground.
The company foresees their aircraft to be used wide scale for regular air cargo service, humanitarian aid, surveillance missions and battle field support.
Specifications:
- Aircraft type: eVTOL or hybrid-electric VTOL air cargo drone concept design
- Piloting: Remote piloting and eventually autonomous piloting (Beyond Visual Line of Sight)
- Capacity: Cargo only
- Cruise speed: 200 km/h (124 mph)
- Range: 163-1,650 km (101-1,118 m), depending upon the power source
- Flight time: 45 minutes – 7.3 hours Varies based on mission and power source (air cargo or surveillance )
- Maximum cruise altitude: 1,000-5,000 m (3,281-16,404 ft), depending upon the power source
- Empty weight: 415 kg (915 lb)
- Maximum payload weight: 250 kg (551 lb)
- Maximum takeoff weight: 665 kg (1,466 lb)
- Propellers: 4 propellers (front 2 propellers are tilt-propellers, rear 2 propellers are VTOL only)
- Electric motors: 4 electric motors
- Power source: Batteries, hybrid-electric, hydrogen, kerosene-based, solar cells on aircraft)
- Fuselage: Carbon fiber composite
- Wings: 1 main wing (can fold up during storage or transportation) with two booms
- Tail: 1 boom tail with vertical stabilizers
- Landing gear: Fixed quadricycle wheeled landing gear
- Safety features: Distributed Electric Propulsion (DEP) means having multiple propellers (or electric ducted fans) and multiple electric motors on an aircraft so if one or more propellers (or electric ducted fans) or some electric motors fail, the other working propellers (or electric ducted fans) and electric motors can safely land the aircraft. DEP provides safety through redundancy for passengers or cargo. There are also redundancies of critical components in the sub-systems of the aircraft providing safety through redundancy. Having multiple redundant systems on any aircraft decreases having any single point of failure.
Company Insights:
Resources:
- ELSA Industry website
- ELSA Industry Facebook
- ELSA Industry Twitter
- ELSA Industry YouTube Channel
- ELSA Industry Instagram
- ELSA Industry LinkedIn
- Article: New Partnership Between IHT AG and ELSA Industry Brings Eco-Friendly Hydrogen UAV to the Market, ELSA Industry, May 30, 2024
- Article: ELSA Industry and Villinger GmbH Sign Memorandum of Understanding, ELSA Industry, June 27, 2024
- Article: ELSA, Villinger Sign MOU “to Develop Advanced Cargo Drones”, eVTOL Insights, June 28, 2024
- Video: ELSA-H UAV, ELSA Industry, Mar. 28, 2024
