The Transformer (TX) Vehicle program will examine the feasibility and approaches for developing a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL), road-worthy vehicle that can carry a 1,000 lb payload at a range of 250nm on a single tank of fuel. DARPA has earmarked $18 million dollars in the 2012 butget to continue development of the Transformer Vehicle, up from $6 million in 2012 and $12.2 million in 2011.
Transformer Vehicle Concept
With a flyable/roadable vehicle, the warfighter has the ability to avoid road obstructions as well as improvised explosive devices and ambush threats, providing flexibility for tactical military and personnel transport missions. The primary focus of this program is to demonstrate the ability to build a ground vehicle that is capable of configuring into a VTOL air vehicle that provides sufficient
flight performance and range, while carrying a payload that is representative of four troops with gear.
The enabling technologies of interest include hybrid electric drive, advanced batteries, stowable wing structures, ducted fan propulsion, lightweight materials, and advanced sensors and flight controls for stable transition from vertical to horizontal flight. TX vehicles could be dispatched for downed airman recovery, for evacuating injured personnel from difficult-to-access locations, or to resupply isolated small units.
TX will also be suitable for enhanced company operations concepts which would provide the warfighter/team increased situational awareness for operations in an urban environment.
The transportation needs of today’s deployed warfighter are typically met by either highly mobile multipurpose wheeled vehicles (HMMWV) or a helicopter, which have limited availability. DARPA’s Transformer (TX) program seeks to combine the advantages of ground vehicles and helicopters into a single vehicle, maximizing flexibility of movement. The TX concept will provide options to counter traditional and asymmetrical threats while avoiding road obstructions.
Transformer Vehicle Concept
The benefits of enhanced mobility are numerous. Transportation will no longer be restricted to trafficable terrain that makes movement predictable and easy to track. TX technology will enhance capabilities for resupply operations, fire-team insertion and extraction, and medical evacuation—reducing timelines and increasing the probability of survival. Key to the success of this technology is the ability for guidance, navigation and control of TX to be conducted without a dedicated pilot—increasing flexibility.
goal of the program is to define the major components and overall design of a TX vehicle that would be suitable for military scouting, personnel transport, and logistics missions. The Transformer program will examine the feasibility and approaches for developing vertical take-off and landing, road-worthy vehicles that carry a 4-person payload >250 NM on one tank of fuel, able to safely travel on roads and be operated by a typical soldier. Technical areas that will be explored include: hybrid electric drive ducted fan propulsion system, ring motors, energy storage methods such as batteries and ultra capacitors, morphing vehicle bodies, and advanced flight controls and flight management systems.
FY 2010 Accomplishments:
Initiated trade studies of vehicle designs, propulsion systems, flight dynamics and control, ground mobility, energy conversion and storage, vehicle architecture, and stowable wing structures.
Initiated conceptual design of the operational vehicle and the system requirements of a demonstration prototype vehicle.
FY 2011 Plans:
- Continue detailed trade studies to develop a vehicle design in areas including propulsion, adaptable wing structures, lightweight materials, advanced flight control system, air/ground configuration designs, and energy storage and distribution.
Develop a detailed technology maturation plan that provides an integrated risk reduction strategy and achieves the ground and flight test goals of the demonstration prototype vehicle.
Continue development of a conceptual design of the operational vehicle and the system requirements of a demonstration prototype vehicle.
Conduct technology interchange meetings to develop integration plan for vehicle critical enabling technologies.
FY 2012 Plans:
Conduct preliminary design review of TX prototype vehicle concepts to examine the prototype vehicle solutions in higher detail and the detailed program plans and cost for the remaining phases.
Integrate critical enabling technology development efforts into overall vehicle development.
Conduct component testing to show feasibility and function of key technology components.
Initiate risk reduction experiments and modeling to validate design performance.
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