First cargo drone with ion engine to be tested in early 2021

Undefined Technologies is developing a silent delivery drone that will use an ionic propulsion system instead of propellers.

According to engineers, Air Tantrum technologywill completely get rid of moving elements in the design of an unmanned aerial vehicle. Instead, the drone will be equipped with an ion engine that will create thrust due to the movement of gas molecules in the air.

The power plant will ionize nitrogen and oxygen, creating many positively charged particles that will beginbe attracted to negatively chargedelectrode in the form of a multilevel mesh screen. As they accelerate, they will begin to collide with other air molecules, pushing them in the same direction and creating an ionic wind.

According to the Florida startup's website,The noise level of the drone during flight does not exceed 7 dB, which is quieter than the rustling of leaves or human breathing. However, the technical description section does not provide other technical characteristics, so it is unknown how the team plans to solve the issues of maneuverability, stabilization, traction power and power. In the demonstration video, it is noticeable that even during laboratory tests, the structure sways noticeably during flight.

So far, researchers have demonstratedlarge-scale prototypes of ion-thrust aircraft that could barely mix the weight of their own structure, not to mention the sensors, unmanned control system and payload.

Undefined Technologies plans to holdfirst field tests of its drone with an ion engine on January 30, 2021. Ultimately, the team wants to develop a silent vertical takeoff and landing device for delivering cargo in urban environments.

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