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WASHINGTON \u2014 Rare is the flying machine whose most interesting feature comes into play when it is sits stationary on the ground. Bell\u2019s APT-70 tiltbody is, primarily, a resupply vehicle, a flying solution pitched at meeting urgent needs in small landing zones.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
With all essential hardware for flying located in the airframe of the vehicle \u2014 instead of the detachable pod (delivering a 70-pound, or in the case of the smaller APT-20 version, a 20-pound payload) \u2014 the utility of the frame itself is what offers new options as a platform. And in a fixed position, it is what lets it work as temporary infrastructure.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cThe APT-70 can function as a comms repeater,\u201d said John Wittmaak of Bell, speaking at the Association of the U.S. Army\u2019s annual conference.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Wittmaak described a scenario where an APT-70 drone is used for resupply as part of disaster relief. After missions depositing water, food, cooled blood if need be and batteries, an APT-70 fitted with a communications signal repeater could land at a high vantage point, restoring signal to the cellphones of people cut off from communication until a more permanent solution can be found.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Such a relay rotorcraft could also land on a hill in an organically denied environment, where mountains and other terrain get in the way of useful radio signals. The ability of a commander to call into place a comms repeater would extend command-and-control capability into otherwise distant or difficult areas.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to make urgent, time-sensitive resupply casual,\u201d Wittmaak said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The APT-70 flies autonomously, taking off and landing like a quadcopter and then pivoting toward more horizontal, fixed-wing flight once in the air. After that transition, the craft draws 50 percent less power and can travel at twice the speed, increasing the range over traditional quadcopters.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Autonomous navigation is guided by GPS, with inertial sensors and onboard cameras contributing. The APT-70\u2032s communications are encrypted. Users can hard-code mission constraints into the navigation, which would prevent the flying machine from going off course.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n