Pterodynamics, a company specializing in autonomous vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft systems, recently conducted sea trials with the US Navy to showcase the impressive capabilities of its Transwing drone. This drone, which succeeded in autonomously landing on a moving target, features a unique design with dihedral folding wings that provide exceptional range and cargo capacity.
The sea trials were part of the US Naval Forces Southern Command U.S. 4th Fleet Hybrid Fleet Campaign Event, held on the expeditionary fast transport USNS Burlington. The successful demonstrations emphasized the drone’s potential for ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore logistics and critical maritime resupply missions, with a focus on assessing combined unmanned and manned systems to support broader operational missions.
The event attracted representatives from various naval forces, including the U.S. Navy, the Royal Navy, the Royal Australian Navy, the Royal Netherlands Navy, and the Swedish Navy, and featured the Vice Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Lisa Franchetti. Tim Whitehand, Vice President of Engineering at PteroDynamics, expressed the company’s commitment to delivering a flexible and scalable shore-to-ship, ship-to-ship, and ship-to-shore automated cargo delivery capability for the U.S. Navy.
The Transwing drone offers a unique approach to VTOL aircraft, combining the benefits of fixed-wing aircraft with superior VTOL performance. Its folded wing design provides outstanding controllability and the capability to function effectively in challenging conditions, such as turbulent winds and high sea states. The sea trials provided essential data on the drone’s operational features, including its integration with ship operations, independent takeoff and landing, smooth transition from VTOL to cruise flight, and navigation to and from a moving ship at sea.
The information gathered during these trials will accelerate the development and further innovation of the Transwing drone, contributing to its capabilities for future naval applications. With a strong focus on combining innovation with operational requirements, Pterodynamics continues to demonstrate its cutting-edge technology in the field of autonomous aircraft.
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