Boeing, the Chicago-based aircraft manufacturer has signed a partnership agreement with Tactical Robotics Ltd., an Israel-based wholly owned subsidiary of Urban Aeronautics Ltd. The new consensus has been inked in order to develop, produce and market an aircraft with the capability of vertical take-off and landing, which will include ‘Fancraft’ rotor technology introduced by Tactical Robotics Ltd.
Tactical Robotics already has developed an autonomous VTOL flying car named ‘Cormorant’ which is based on the footprints of Humvee, a high mobility multipurpose four-wheeled vehicle. These flying vehicles can response immediately in emergency missions, due to its compact size, to deliver necessary supplies during combat environments and in condition of natural disasters. It has the capacity to carry four victims during any medical emergency.
Cormorant consist rotors inside a cylindrical duct to produce thrust. This arrangement can provide advantages in terms of both, directing airflow and providing notional safety for nearby human beings as the rotors remains almost covered. The configuration of Fancraft technology improves payload, endurance, stability and speed of the aircraft in comparison to open blade arrangement.
Dennis D. Swanson, the VP of Boeing international sales and global sales & marketing states, “The relationship between Boeing and Israel goes back about 70 years, and during that period Boeing has a long history of working in partnership with Israel’s technical and industrial sectors. This MoU with Tactical Robotics builds on Boeing’s commitment to developing and investing in innovative technologies that lead to safe, reliable aircraft around the world.”
The CEO of Urban Aeronautics Ltd., Rafi Yoeli, states, “Cormorant represents the first in a family of vertical takeoff and landing aircraft that can fly and land where no other aircraft can. We can think of no better partner than Boeing to help us develop this product and utilize the Fancraft technology to its full potential.”