Folding Wings – Logistical UAV Solution 

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The successful operation of unmanned aerial systems depends to a large extent on their transportation and logistics. Autonomously folding wings for an unmanned aerial system are currently under development, designed to provide better handling and ship storage. Skyways is developing them for its Group 3 UAS selected for the US Navy Blue Water Maritime Logistics UAS program. 

The company wants to have its Group 3 vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft’s wings autonomously fold after take off and before landing. 

The company is experimenting with different concepts, but as Skyways’ Blue Water UAS has four pairs of rotors for VTOL mode, it cannot experiment with the entire spectrum of folding wing possibilities. This includes pulling the wings back toward the tail. The Skyways Blue Water UAS’ wings can be fully removed in less than 30 seconds, according to the company.

Skyways was awarded a USD575,141 other transaction award (OTA) on 29 August 2019 for the Blue Water Maritime Logistics UAS program.

Under the August 2019 OTA, the company developed a dual-propulsion system that is flying on one of its aircraft. This system has electric propulsion for VTOL and a heavy-fuel gasoline engine for the whole duration of cruise flight, according to janes.com.