SkyProwler
SkyProwler is a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) transformer drone using the switchblade transformation mechanism. Accessories include a 3D-stabilized camera and a cargo drop door. Please sign up for a Christmas discount coupon and visit our store.
Airplane configuration - aerodynamically clean for fast and efficient forward flight
VTOL configuration - a big rotor disc area for efficient VTOL and hover
Switchblade Mechanism
The patent pending switchblade mechanism forms the basis of the transformation of SkyCruiser and SkyProwler. Airplanes need to fly fast and to fly fast you need to be as aerodynamically clean as possible. That's why airplanes are long and narrow, somewhat drop-shaped and with as few 'things' sticking out as possible.
For vertical take-off and landing on the other hand, you need to be the opposite of aerodynamic. The more things you have sticking out producing lift (think of the extreme of a parachute for example) the easier it is to hover. This is one of the main reasons that helicopters which a great at hover, are not very good at forward flight, being slow as well as needing a lot of fuel.
The switchblade mechanism transforms an aircraft from the aerodynamically clean airplane configuration to the VTOL configuration, which features a number of rotors that together have a large rotor disc area that is ideal for hovering at low power.
The switchblade mechanism is of similar technical complexity as a gear retraction mechanism and in itself adds very little weight to SkyCruiser and SkyProwler.
Multi-Mission Versatility
SkyProwler can be reconfigured to fly without wings. You can simply take the wings off and fly SkyProwler more like a traditional multirotor. This makes it a slower aircraft with less range and endurance. But it makes it smaller and hence more suitable for small spaces, it makes it less susceptible to cross wind while hovering and it adds duration to its hover time because without wings the aircraft is lighter.
Blade configuration (with wings) and Hornet configuration (wingless).
Performance Data
Winged cruise speed (Blade config)
Non-winged cruise speed (Hornet config)
Winged Cruise Range (Blade Config)
Hornet Range (No Wings)
Max Ascent
Endurance
Payload
Weather limit Blade
Weather limit Hornet
Service ceiling
Temperature range
Design Parameters
VTOL power systems
Thruster power system
Servos
Battery
Number of batteries
VTOL propellers
Thruster propeller
Materials
Wingspan
Length of hull w/o tail and nose cone
Control and Interfacing
Ground station radio frequency
Ground station radio technology
Video down-link
Telemetry radio frequency
Ground station radio and video antennas
Flight controller CPU:
Flight controller compatibility
Interface
Ground control software
Ground control software based on
Ground control software functionality
Eye Aerial Action Cam and integrated gimbal stabilization (igs)
CMOS Imaging Chip
SD card
Camera trigger
Camera orientation (roll, pitch, yaw)
ProAm video
Upgrade Pro and ProX video
ProAm and Pro photo
Brushless Motors for igs
IGS controller
Lens mount
Eye Cam ProX upgrade
~60mph/100kph (- ~10% with additional battery)
~30mph/50kph (- ~15% with additional battery)
~40 miles/65 km (+ ~40% with additional battery)
~10 miles/15km (+ ~30% extra with additional battery)
~4m/s Blade, ~6m/s Hornet
Blade (Wings) ~40 min, Hornet (No wings) ~15 min, (+ ~30 to 40% with additional battery)
~450g/16oz (Blade), ~400g/14.5oz (Hornet)
~15mph/24kph crosswind during VTOL, otherwise ~25mph/40kph; light rain
Wind resistance ~20mph/32kph; light rain
~5,000m/16,500ft (Blade cruise flight); ~4,500m/14,800ft (Hornet)
~-15ºC/5ºF to 50 ºC/122ºF; check battery condition, especially in cold weather
4x ~130W, ~1,200rpm per input Volt
1x ~400W, ~1,300rpm per input Volt
digital, metal-geared, with bearings
3 cells ~5,000 mAh or 4 cells ~4,000 mAh
2: one in main battery hold (standard); one in cargo hold (additional)
~9 inch
~9 inch
Composites, carbon fiber, 7075-T6 aircraft aluminum, high strength foam, ABS
~35.5inches/900mm
~21inch/550mm
2.4 Ghz (FCC and CE compliant)
based on FrSky technology
5.8 GHz (FCC and CE compliant)
433 Mhz or 915 Mhz
directional
32 bit, 168 Mhz, 256 KB RAM, Pixhawk based; with backup CPU
provided receiver; third party receivers such as Futaba (SBus), Spektrum or FrSky (SBus)
USB interface on flight controller and ground station radio
GPS waypoints, GPS follow, autonomous missions, flight logging
open source Ground Control Software; will be available for download to all customers
program SkyProwler for autonomous missions independent of the radio ground station, it typically runs on a laptop and can connect to SkyProwler via a cable or in the air, via the telemetry radio, enables Mapping, Surveys, GPS waypoints including transitions from cruise flight to hover and back, Automatic photography, Autonomous flight, etc.
16 Megapixels
ProAm 1080p60 - class 10; Pro/ProX - SanDisk Extreme Plus or equivalent
via radio ground station or via on board buttons
Pitch control: +/- 90 degrees, Roll: +/- 45 degrees; Yaw: +/- 30 degrees
1080p HD at 60 frames per second (fps) and 720p at 120 fps
4K UHD at 30 fps, 1080p HD at 60 fps and 720p at 120fps
16 mega pixels
integrated gimbal stabilization (igs) via 3 x 12N14P micromotors
3-axis micro gimbal controller
M12
allows for rapid lens and filter exchange allowing for in-field reconfiguration of the Eye Cam Pro (4K) for wide angle or zoomed (~ 2x zoomed) field of view with either a daylight filter or an NIR filter; more filters available upon request; advantage of separate filter and lens are vastly reduced costs because filters are cheaper than lenses
