Otto Aerospace and Swift Engineering 助力 DARPA 研究，成功进行层流飞行器飞行测试

Milestone provides further confirmation of breakthrough laminar-flow aerodynamics through a DARPA research program.

 Otto Aerospace announced the successful completion of a flight-test campaign for its unmanned drone aircraft designed around its proven laminar-flow technology, which dramatically reduces aerodynamic drag by maintaining smooth, uninterrupted airflow over an aircraft’s surfaces. Conducted from Spaceport America in New Mexico’s White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) airspace, the campaign validated predicted aerodynamic efficiency of the aircraft’s laminar-flow design technology in flight.

The drone was funded in part under a 24-month contract with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the Operational Energy Capability Improvement Fund (OECIF) to advance research for DARPA’s Energy Web Aircraft (EWA) program. Centered around power-beaming and distributed energy web exploration, the EWA program sought to enable laser-based power transfer across long distances by using airborne relays to beam energy to aircraft potentially keeping them aloft indefinitely. The flight-test campaign announced today was an Otto Aerospace-funded development effort, conducted independently and outside the scope of the DARPA and OECIF contract.

Otto’s role focused on developing a highly laminar-flow efficient airframe. The program leveraged Otto’s aerodynamic expertise to design and flight-test an unmanned vehicle that could inform design parameters for future energy-relay systems or more extremely fuel-efficient, long-endurance platforms.

“This aircraft proved what we’ve modeled for years, that high-efficiency laminar-flow aerodynamics can deliver extraordinary endurance and performance,” said Scott Drennan, president and CEO of Otto Aerospace. “We’re proud that Otto’s expertise helped advance DARPA’s research objectives and equally proud of our team for executing a flawless flight campaign that pushes aerodynamic science forward.”

Flight operations were conducted in partnership with Swift Engineering, which managed vehicle preparation and coordinated range and telemetry support. Swift’s established presence at Spaceport America and extensive experience with high-altitude UAVs helped Otto carry out multiple sorties over WSMR airspace.

“Swift is proud to partner with Otto on this breakthrough,” said Hamed Khalkhali, president of Swift Engineering. “The performance demonstrated in flight confirms the promise of laminar-flow aerodynamics to redefine long-endurance efficiency for unmanned systems across defense and commercial applications.”

Conceived under DARPA’s EWA effort, the demonstrator serves as a broader validation platform for Otto’s laminar-flow research, providing data applicable to future energy-relay UAV concepts as well as Otto’s own commercial and defense programs.

“The data collected in this test opens new possibilities for energy-efficient aviation,” said Drennan. “From business jets to long-endurance UAVs, we’re showing how laminar flow can change what’s possible in flight.”

...来自 SP 的说明

About Otto Aerospace

Otto Aerospace is an advanced aeronautics company committed to transforming commercial and defense aviation through next-generation transonic laminar-flow aerodynamics. With a mission to unlock the full potential of laminar flow and radically reduce the energy required for flight, Otto is developing technologies that significantly decrease energy consumption and reshape the economics of air transportation. Based in Fort Worth, Texas, the company integrates world-class engineering and rigorous research to develop a series of clean-sheet, next-generation aircraft in the business and regional jet sectors.

This Changes Everything. Learn more at ottoaerospace.com.

关于作者

EVHNews

全球电动混合动力汽车、电动航空、电动船舶技术及未来创新电动混合动力 VTOL 航空航天技术新闻！

EVHNews.com 是 EVVTOL 的全球数字技术平台。EVVTOL 是全球电动汽车/混合动力汽车、电子航空、E-VTOL、E-Marine 未来技术行业展示和展览活动组织机构，全球最大的电动汽车和 E-VTOL 品牌在此投资未来交通。

EV H News 致力于电动汽车和电动混合动力汽车、电动航空、电动直升机、电动船舶、电动交通、电动半导体和电动卡车等行业。
这个数字平台将包括来自全球行业领导者的评论和资源，其中许多侧重于清洁蓝色技术和替代燃料（如适用）。EVH 新闻平台让所有人都能获得未来电子汽车、电子航空、电子海运、电子摩托车、电子半导体和电子卡车等行业突破性电子技术的工具和信息。

关于 EVVTOL

- EVVTOL 是一家新公司，其品牌定位是全球最具影响力的未来技术展/博览会活动组织，其战略定位是成功满足电动汽车和 VTOL 运输行业客户的需求！

- EVVTOL 的目标是展示电动汽车和 VTOL 行业，并通过发布和展示尖端电动汽车和 E-VTOL 技术，介绍电动汽车和 VTOL 领域的主要车辆和零部件制造商。

- EVVTOL 的使命是推出多个技术展和博览会，包括有影响力的高级别电动汽车商业峰会，这些峰会以与电动汽车和电动交通行业、能源汽车信息技术和充电基础设施行业的主要制造商进行商业接触这两个主题为基础。这些活动是了解和讨论电动汽车和 VTOL 行业未来最新交通技术进步以及电池能源挑战的绝佳机会。

(evvtol.org) 877-4EV-VTOL (877-438-8865)

查看作者的帖子

EVHNews

全球电动混合动力汽车、电动航空、电动船舶技术及未来创新电动混合动力 VTOL 航空航天技术新闻！ EVHNews.com 是 EVVTOL 的全球数字技术平台。EVVTOL 是全球电动汽车/混合动力汽车、电动航空、电动 VTOL、电动船舶未来技术行业展示和展览活动组织机构，全球最大的电动汽车和电动 VTOL 品牌在此投资未来交通。 EV H News 致力于电动汽车和电动混合动力汽车、电动航空、电动飞行器、电动船舶等行业，包括电动交通、电动半导体和电动卡车。 这个数字平台将包括来自全球行业领导者的评论和资源，其中许多侧重于清洁蓝色技术和替代燃料（如适用）。EVH 新闻平台让所有人都能获得工具和信息，了解未来电子汽车、电子航空、电子海运、电子摩托车、电子半导体和电子卡车等电子运动行业的突破性电子技术。 关于 EVVTOL - EVVTOL 是一家新公司，以最具影响力的全球未来技术展/博览活动组织为品牌，其战略定位是成功满足电动汽车和 VTOL 运输行业客户的需求！ - EVVTOL 的目标是展示电动汽车和 VTOL 行业，并通过揭幕和展示最先进的电动汽车和 E-VTOL 技术，介绍电动汽车和 VTOL 的主要车辆和零部件制造商。 - EVVTOL 的使命是推出多个技术展和博览会，包括有影响力的高级别电动汽车商业峰会，这些峰会以与电动汽车和电动交通行业、能源汽车信息技术和充电基础设施行业的主要制造商进行商业接触为双重主题。这些活动是了解和讨论电动汽车和 VTOL 行业未来最新交通技术进步以及电池能源挑战的绝佳机会。 (evvtol.org) 877-4EV-VTOL (877-438-8865)

查看完整生平