Rotor begins production
Rotor Technologies, a developer of autonomous vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft, has unveiled the R550X, the largest uncrewed civilian helicopter on the market, and begun production.
The R550X is designed to lift heavy loads up to 1,200 lbs, or 550 kg, with no pilot onboard. With a flight time of over three hours and a top speed of 242 km per hour, the R550X offers long-range VTOL capabilities beyond the reach of drones and eVTOLs, making it suitable for demanding cargo, utility, and maritime operations.
Sensors and digital flight control systems enable the R550X to operate safely and autonomously in a wide range of operating environments – including at night and in limited visibility.
Rotor’s software can prevent common causes of helicopter accidents such as inadvertent entry into instrument meteorological conditions (I-IMC), vortex ring state, mast bumping, loss-of-control, and controlled flight into terrain (CFIT). (cj)