Cyclotech is throwing its hat into the ring in the hopes of becoming one of the big players in the world of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicles, and it thinks the design of its propellers will set it apart from the competition.
Rather than using a traditional propeller with several blades that extend out from a central point, the Cyclotech CruiseUp uses its own CycloRotors. These look like a drum whose sides have been cut out, and they spin on the same axis as a car’s wheels might.
That allows the CruiseUp to direct thrust in any direction, which means that it doesn’t have to tilt its propellers or its body in order to move. It also means that the eVTOL can brake in the air, as it diverts thrust forward, without changing the pitch or yaw of the vehicle.
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That makes the CruiseUp very maneuverable, while at the same time being extremely comfortable for passengers, Cyclotech claims. With six CycloRotors, it says it has also built redundancy into the vehicle, in case a rotor fails.
Powered by electricity, the CycloRotors will be able to carry the CruiseUp up to 62 miles (100 km) on a single charge, at speeds of up to 93 mph (150 km/h). This, the manufacturer says, is more than enough for trips within most major cities and their suburbs.
Cyclotech believes that eVTOLs will start flying in the world’s skies in the coming years as air taxis and shuttles. However, just 50 percent larger than the average personal vehicle, the company says that it is preparing the CruiseUp for the second wave of eVTOL flight. Designed for personal use, it expects individual owners to start being able to fly these vehicles in the 2030s.
“CycloRotors are the entry ticket to the mass market of sustainable aviation with an addressable market of millions of vehicles per year. We make your car fly,” says Markus Steinke, CycloTech’s Chief Development Officer.
Unfortunately, the company has not yet revealed how much it expects to charge for the CruiseUp.