Dornier observation platform
The scouting platform was an unmanned small tethered helicopter developed by Dornier without self-propulsion. The rotor was brought to high speed before take-off, a swirl ring weighing 20 kg stored the energy so that the device could ascend to 50 meters and hover there for about a minute. Equipped with optical or electronic sensors, it should enable close reconnaissance up to 3000 m visibility.
description
The device had a four-bladed rotor 1.2 m in diameter. The rotor blades were provided with an elastic, rotatable swirl ring at the blade tips and connected to this in an elastically rotatable manner. Below the rotor with swirl ring was a second, light ring that did not rotate as a landing gear. Four stabilization and control surfaces, which were attached to the spokes of the landing ring, were acted upon by the air flow of the rotor and could be adjusted by an azimuth control, were used for aerodynamic stabilization . The sensor housing was attached in the middle on top of the rotor head. A shaft running through the center of the rotor head firmly connected it to the landing gear. Self-developed cameras with infrared-sensitive film, which was evaluated after landing, served as the sensor . The relatively high payload of 5 kg was aimed at the electronic cameras that were emerging at the time.
The entire flying system was connected to the ground station by a centrally attached, 50 meter long, thin rope, which served as a transport and landing platform. The rate of climb and the flight altitude were determined by the controlled release and retraction of the rope. The rotor blades had a cyclical control system that responded to the inclined cable pull when drifting and returned the device.
The ground station included the hydraulically operated winding drum for the rope and the hydraulic drive motor for revving the rotor. In order to bring the rotor with the flywheel to 4000 min −1 within one minute , approx. 25 kW were required. The pressure should come from conventional multi-purpose vehicles with a built-in hydraulic pump, such as B. a Unimog . The ground station was designed as a trailer and could form a moving unit with the towing vehicle. Electric drives were provided for stationary use as well as ships with sufficient installed electrical power.
Since the device rose silently into the air, it was particularly interesting for advanced guards or advance commands, also equipped with an infrared sensor in the evenings and at night. Another area of application would be the BOS area (authorities, law enforcement and security forces), such as B. fire brigade or police , who could have quickly obtained an initial overview in the event of an incident with this device.
The system met with great interest in 1979/80, and a variant with a longer flight time was being planned. However, the procurement processes from the military and authorities are very long-term. When Daimler-Benz took over the Dornier company in 1985 , the expected order did not meet the new criteria. The program was discontinued and the device was taken to the German Museum in Munich .
Technical specifications
| Parameter | Data |
|---|---|
| Rotor diameter | 1.2 m |
| Rotor blades | 4th |
| drive | Balance mass 20 kg |
| Propulsion of the flywheel on the ground | 25 kW, hydraulics |
| Total mass of the aircraft | 30 kg |
| payload | Max 5kg |
| Floating time | 1 minute with 5 kg payload, without climbing time |
| Rise time | approx. 10 s |
| Ground station | 80 kg without trailer |
literature
- Kyrill von Gersdorff, Kurt Knobling, Carl Bode: Helicopter and Gyrocopter, Bernard & Graefe Verlag, 1999, p. 148. ISBN 3-7637-6115-2 .
- A documentation on the history of the Dornier company , published by Dornier GmbH, 1983, 214 pages bound.