Sikorsky Cypher

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The Cypher and Cypher II are types of unmanned aerial vehicles developed by Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation. They are vertical takeoff and landing aircraft which use two opposing rotors enclosed in a circular shroud for propulsion.

Contents 1 Cypher 2 Cypher II 3 Specifications (Cypher) 3.1 General characteristics 3.2 Performance 4 References 5 External links 6 Related content

[edit] Cypher

In the late 1980s, Sikorsky Aircraft flew a small UAV named "Cypher", with coaxial rotors inside a doughnut-shaped airframe. The doughnut-shaped shroud not only improved safety in handling the machine, it also helped increase lift. The first proof-of-concept Cypher was 1.75 meters (5.75 feet) in diameter and 55 centimeters (1.8 feet) tall, weighed 20 kilograms (43 pounds), and was first flown in the summer of 1988. This design was powered by a four-stroke, 2.85 kW (3.8 hp) engine and had to be mounted on a truck for forward-flight tests.

It led to a true flight prototype Cypher that weighed 110 kilograms (240 pounds), had a diameter of 1.9 meters (6.2 feet) and was powered by a compact, 40 kW (53 hp) rotary engine. After an initial free flight in 1993, the Cypher prototype was used in flight tests and demonstrations through most of the 1990s, ultimately leading to a next-generation design, the Cypher II, which was a competitor in the US Navy VT-UAV competition.

The single prototype first flew in April 1992 and flew untethered the following year. Since then, over 550 flights have been made in a series of demonstrations for the US government.

The doughnut-shaped Cypher can carry a sensor package on struts above its hull, or can be used to transport loads of up to 50 lb (23 kg).

[edit] Cypher II

Two Cypher II prototypes have been built for the US Marine Corps, which calls the UAV "Dragon Warrior". The Cypher II is similar in size to its predecessor, but has a pusher propeller along with its rotor and can be fitted with wings for long-range reconnaissance missions. In its winged configuration, the Cypher II has a range of over 185 kilometers (115 miles) and a top speed of 230 km/h (145 mph). It is unclear if the Cypher will be put into production.

[edit] Specifications (Cypher)

[edit] General characteristics

• Crew: N/A
• Capacity: 50 lb (23 kg)
• Diameter: 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
• Rotor Diameter: 4.0 ft
• Height: 2 ft 0 in
• Main rotor area: 25.2 ft² (2.4 m²)
• Maximum Takeoff Weight: 300 lb. To 340lb. (depending on engine)
• Powerplant: 1x UEL AR-801Wankel rotary engine, 50 hp (37 kW)
• Rotor Diameter: 4.0 ft
• Nominal Weight: 264 lb.
• Payloads: EO, FLIR, small radars, chemical detectors and magnetometers, radio relay, and non-lethal payloads
• Payload Weight: 25 to 50 lb.

[edit] Performance

• Main rotor loading: 9.9 lb/ft² (47.5 kg/m²)
• Power/Mass: 0.2 hp/lb (0.32 kW/kg)
• Altitude (max): 8,000 ft
• Endurance (max): 2-3 hours
• Speed (max): 60 mph
• Nominal Weight: 264 lb.
• Max Range: 90-125 km depending on model

[edit] References

This article contains material that originally came from the web article Unmanned Aerial Vehicles by Greg Goebel, which exists in the Public Domain.

[edit] External links

• Cypher

[edit] Related content

Related development:

Comparable aircraft:

Designation sequence: 'Cypher - Cypher II