Skybridge Unmanned Helicopter by Chen Xu |
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| DESIGN NAME: Skybridge PRIMARY FUNCTION: Unmanned Helicopter INSPIRATION: This unmanned helicopter is designed for cargo transport from ships to portless islands. Maritime operational demands inspired its biomimetic approach, translating marine organisms' hydrodynamic efficiency into aerospace engineering. The streamlined fuselage curvature and rotor system synergy originate from analyzing oceanic lifeforms' drag-resistant structures. UNIQUE PROPERTIES / PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Designed for cargo delivery to portless islands, this helicopter overcomes geographical barriers. Its biomechanically optimized airframe, multi-hook suspension, and intelligent undercarriage winches achieve a 260kg payload capacity—operating reliably at 6,000m altitude and 12m/s winds, redefining aerial logistics for extreme environments. OPERATION / FLOW / INTERACTION: Operators on a support vessel remotely control the helicopter, using onboard cameras and sensors for real-time visual feedback. The operators identify and control helicopter to capture the cargo, providing a secure and damage-free delivery method compared to direct airdrops. PROJECT DURATION AND LOCATION: The project started in January 2024 in Beijing and finished in February 2025 in Beijing. |
PRODUCTION / REALIZATION TECHNOLOGY: The manufacturing process integrates the modular assembly concept of the naval industry, and adopts composite materials to realize one-piece molding of the fuselage covering parts. The internal structure uses carbon fiber materials to achieve a 32% breakthrough in lightweight, which significantly improves the carrying efficiency. The streamlined aerodynamic design is modeled after marine life, which ensures the structural strength and effectively reduces the operational energy consumption. SPECIFICATIONS / TECHNICAL PROPERTIES: with rotor: 3786X3600X1330mm without rotor:2660X1054X950m TAGS: Civil Drone, Product Design, Remotely Piloted Aircraft, Unmanned Helicopter, Maritime Transport RESEARCH ABSTRACT: This design analyzes the efficient movement mechanism of marine organisms through bionic methods, focusing on the hydrodynamic curves and their energy transfer modes when fish swim. Combined with computational fluid dynamics simulation and 3D scanning modeling technology, the bio-evolutionary advantages of marine organisms, such as drag-reducing characteristics, are transformed into UAV engineering parameters. CHALLENGE: Balancing the societal need for efficient island resupply with minimizing environmental impact and complying with UAV regulations proved challenging. Developing a safe, reliable unmanned system with the required payload and capture capabilities required extensive research and design iterations. ADDED DATE: 2025-02-27 23:05:50 TEAM MEMBERS (6) : Chen Xu, Wu Fangbo, Dr. Wang Lijing, Dr. Zhang Rong, Cai Tianyang and Zhang jun IMAGE CREDITS: Image #1: Creator sxdesign, 2025. Optional Image #1: Creator sxdesign, 2025. Optional Image #2: Creator sxdesign, 2025. Optional Image #3: Creator sxdesign, 2025. Optional Image #4: Creator sxdesign, 2025. |
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| CLIENT/STUDIO/BRAND DETAILS | |
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NAME: Beihang University PROFILE: Beihang University (BUAA; formerly as Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics) is a public university in Haidian, Beijing, China. It is affiliated with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. The university is part of Project 211, Project 985, and the Double First-Class Construction. |
| AWARD DETAILS | |
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Skybridge Unmanned Helicopter by Chen Xu is Winner in Futuristic Design Category, 2024 - 2025.· Read the interview with designer Chen Xu for design Skybridge here.· Press Members: Login or Register to request an exclusive interview with Chen Xu. · Click here to register inorder to view the profile and other works by Chen Xu. |
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