The JENTEC Gyrodrone

Un-Manned Autogyro

Dale Lawrence Jensen, P.E.

Executive Engineer, JENTEC

P.O. Box 694

Lawndale Ca. 90260

310-371-8469

Introduction

• There has been emphasis on developing

short take-off & landing un-manned aircraft..

• Extant aircraft designs;

Helicopters

Thrust diversion

• Over looked design

Autogyros

• Autogyros have advantages similar to

helicopters without some of the drawbacks.

Autogyro Advantages

• Simpler, safer, & less expensive

• Short take-off; vertical in 20 knot wind

• Inherent autonomous vertical landing

• Spectacular manuever capability

• Operation in restricted quarters

• Speed comparable to fixed wing design

• Always in auto-rotate mode

Kellett Autogyro

Amelia Earhart & Her Autogyro

Bensen Autogyro

Groen Autogyro

Mission Requirements

• Pre-programmed flight pattern

• 1 pound camera payload

• Short take-off & landing

• Operate from shipboard & un-improved

areas

• Operate in restricted space

Design Requirements

• Maximum speed 100 m.p.h.

• Cruise speed 80 m.p.h.

• Loiter 20 m.p.h.

• Service ceiling 12,000 feet

• Range15 miles

• Endurance one half hour

• Weight 12 - 13 pounds

• Rotor loading, 3.5 pounds per square foot

• Manuever load factor, plus 2.5 to minus 1

• Command & control through radio link

Gyrodrone Port Side Elevation

Weight Estimate

Autogyro Comparison Parameter Gyrodrone Bensen Kellett Pitcairn

Weight, lbs. 15 425 2205 3300

Rotor area, sq. ft. 2.5 12 60 112

Horse power 0.75 72 225 422

Speed, max., m.p.h. 100 85 128 140

Speed, cruise, m.p.h. 80 60 103 115

Speed, min., m.p.h. 15 23 17 25

Rotor load, lbs./ sq. ft. 6 36 38 29

Power load, lb. / h.p, 20 6 10 8

Rotor span, feet 4 20 40 50

Rotor chord, inches 5 7 12 18

Number of blades 4 2 3 3

Fuel, gal. (2 tanks) 0.86 6 30 66

Fuel, lbs. 0.29 36 180 396

Endurance, hours 0.5 1.7 2 3.25

Aerodynamics

• Aspect Ratio 8

• Chord 5 inches

• Span 4 feet

• Drag, CDo, 0.13

• Lift curve slope, CLa, 0.098

• Rotor lift area, 6.67 feet

Parasite Drag

Eq.flat Plate vs. Wetted Area

0.007 0.005

0.1

1

10 100

Wetted Area, sq.ft.

Eq

. F

lat

Pla

te, sq

.ft.

Wetted Area, 17.98 square feet

Equivalent flat plate area, 0.13

Polar Plot, CD versus CL

Power vesus Velocity

Comparison of Drag versus Speed

Weight versus Rotor Area

Autonomous Gudance, Navigation,

& Flight Control

Schematic Diagram

Autonomous Navigation, Guidance, & Control

Conclusions

• Autonomously operating gyrodrone has

unique capability

• Less complex, safer, & less expensive

than helicopter

• Operate from unprepared areas,

shipboard, & manuever restricted zones

• Employable in hazardous situations

without exposure of personnel to risk

Status

• Prototype Under Construction

Planking needs to be completed

Rotor to provide lift remains to be

fabricated

• Test flying to follow

• Prototype wind tunnel testing to follow

• Questions?

Recommendation

• Build wind tunnel model for testing

• Building prototype for demonstration

• Thank you for listening

• Questions?

HG 1700 Inertial Measuring Unit

Development Schedule

Development Organization