AAC to develop drone using NASA’s pivoting thrust invention

Virginia-based long-endurance tilt-wing drone specialist Advanced Aircraft Company (AAC) has been tapped by NASA to develop a UAV it has designed that pivots the propellers to shift from vertical liftoff to horizontal flight thrust in a more effective manner than existing methods used on most air taxis being developed.

The contract calls for AAC to produce a multi-rotor, tilt-wing drone built to NASA’s design, research, and other mission specifications, using an aero-activated tilt-wing configuration and electric-powered propulsion system. Created by NASA, the aerodynamically actuated thrust method of pivoting propellers for vertical to horizontal propulsions is said the be lighter and more effective than mechanism on similar craft.

At some point, the AAC-NASA drone is also expected to be transitioned into broader commercial use. 

Reflecting AAC’s innovative focus in its aircraft development activities, the NASA prototype drone will similarly…