Aerofex

Aerofex is the developer of a revolutionary thrust vectoring technology that equips VTOL UAVs and aerial platforms with unprecedented levels of control, stability and power efficiency. Powerful yet simple, this new capability allows manufacturers and aerial platform developers to scale beyond current technological limitations.

The Limitations of Current VTOL Technology

Aerial multirotor technology has effectively reached its apex, and many manufacturers have failed to develop VTOL platforms that significantly advance beyond the current state of the art. It also does not scale well, with the cost per pound of payload capacity increasing significantly as aircraft get larger.

At a certain size, scaling any further becomes impractical and effectively impossible. Larger propellers require more power, but electric motors have efficiency limits and adding more batteries adds more weight, as do the stronger frames required to support them. Larger drones also experience stronger aerodynamic forces, making them harder to stabilize and control.

Thrust vectoring overcomes many of these problems with differential motor control, and is the key to the next generation of unmanned flight platforms.

Aerofex Thrust Vectoring

Our disruptive technology breaks through the limitations of traditional multirotor propulsion while addressing the issues inherent in other methods of thrust vectoring.

Aerofex TVPs pivot the rotor assembly through the center of thrust, without needing to move the engine. Steering the thrust in this way provides a number of advantages:

Stability – By pivoting through the center of thrust, unwanted rotations and instabilities are reduced, making the aircraft easier to control. This provides a significant advantage in challenging conditions such as bad weather or launches from naval vessels. 

Longevity – Removing the need to move the engine reduces stress and potential failure points.

Simplicity – Our design reduces the amount of hydraulics and moving parts such as actuators, resulting in a less complex system that is more reliable and easier to maintain. 

Control – Differential motor control makes responsiveness to inputs slower as the size of the aircraft increases. With our thrust vectoring technology, adjustments translate to attitude changes almost instantly, vastly improving the stability and maneuverability of the aircraft. The system is highly scalable, working equally well on large and small platforms. 

Efficiency – Thrust vectoring does away with the need for constantly changing motor speeds, making it much more energy-efficient and leading to longer flight times.

Aerofex TVP Configurations

Our thrust vectoring solutions are available in three main configurations. All can be provided in either pusher or puller arrangements, and can be mounted to the airframe in any orientation.

Integrating Aerofex TVPs into your platforms

We are integration experts, and have developed a process for quickly and efficiently equipping your aircraft designs with our vectored thrust propulsors.

We can customize industry-standard open-source firmware such as PX4, Ardupilot, and Betaflight to handle most TVP integrations. For more complex configurations, we utilize fully programmable flight controllers and model-based design tools to develop a custom solution optimized for your system.

To find out more about integrating your drone designs with Aerofex TVPs, please get in touch.

Military & Defense Applications

ISR 
Our thrust vectoring technology improves significantly on the efficiency and control of multirotor propulsion, allowing for highly maneuverable intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms that can carry more sensors and cover more ground in a single flight.

Cargo & Logistics 
Aerofex TVPs can be used to scale up to large VTOL platforms with impressive payload capacities, enabling rapid delivery of critical supplies such as food and water, spare parts, medical supplies or ammunition.

CASEVAC 
Our TVPs can equip VTOL aircraft with the power and maneuverability required to traverse the battlefield and rapidly extract medical casualties to safety, minimizing the time spent at risk and vastly improving patient outcomes.

Upgrading Legacy Aircraft
In addition to being incorporated into new designs, our technology can be retrofitted into existing platforms, equipping them with enhanced capabilities and extending their useful lifespan. Field-selectable propulsors can be fitted according to specific mission requirements.