ASSOCIATION FOR UNMANNED VEHICLE SYSTEMS SPOTLIGHT
In November 2020 , the company established a new base of operations in Bend , Oregon . Nearly a quarter of the company ’ s 100 full-time employees are based in the central Oregon city — and the company ’ s VP of Production and Maintenance , Ahmad Ziada , expects that will double by the end of the year .
“ At this location , we are focusing on manufacturing , engineering , flight operations , and testing ,” he said . “ We are steadily growing and recruiting qualified team members , especially local talent . Bend has deep industrial roots , exhibits an impressive local and regional supply chain , a rich talent pool , and the weather couldn ’ t be more perfect for flying and testing our aircraft .”
Volansi ’ s base airframe configuration is a vertical takeoff and landing ( VTOL ) capable fixed-wing platform . Its VOLY C10 Series aircraft employ an all-electric propulsion system , including a pusher prop for forward flight and an integrated multirotor vertical lift system . With a payload capacity of 10 pounds , these aircraft have a 40-mile range and a cruising speed between 50 and 60 mph . The gross take-off weight is 55 pounds .
The company sees applications for these aircraft in the construction , oil and gas , mining , and healthcare industries . In 2018 , its aircraft were deployed to Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria to transport temperaturecontrolled vaccines developed by pharmaceutical giant Merck .
Volansi ’ s platforms , such as the VOLY C10 seen here , were developed to solve specific logistics problems by delivering 10-pound payloads in a cargo container slung underneath the aircraft ’ s belly .
The most recent addition to the company ’ s fleet is the VOLY M20 Series , developed for defense applications . While still using the same basic aircraft configuration , the VOLY M20 Series swaps out the electric motor driving the pusher prop for an internal combustion engine . It can fly for eight hours at 75 mph , giving it an effective range of 350 miles .
A unique innovation of the VOLY M20 Series is its ability to transport a 20-pound payload across the battlefield , such as medical supplies , parts , and tools , as well as providing a perch for a 10-pound intelligence , surveillance , and reconnaissance ( ISR ) system — allowing the aircraft to serve double duty in missions .
According to Parvizian , “ The VOLY M20 Series was designed with modularity and mission flexibility in mind . The user experience is a key pillar of this design . We incorporated all the feedback we received from our customers on the need for an easy-to-use , maintain , and operate aircraft that is capable of operating on both land and at sea .”
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