Drafting: Ding Yong.
Drones crisscross the air without powerful and flexible wings. Whether it is a straight wing or a rotor wing, it can lift the drone into the air.
So, have you ever seen a drone flying on a powered parafoil? This is the case with the "Snow Goose" CQ-10A UAV developed by the Canadian company MMIST.
The "Snow Goose" CQ-10A UAV is a cargo drone. On the ground, it is not outstanding in appearance, but it is very recognizable. In addition to the fixed landing gear and the propellers at the back, its fuselage is a large rectangular cargo compartment. Its perception, control and other systems only occupy a small part of the space in the cargo hold.
Not only is it highly recognizable on the ground, but the "Snow Goose" CQ-10A UAV is also very "eye-catching" in the air. Because only when it is in the air will its wings be fully opened. What sets it apart is that its wings are a large motor parafoil. People are no strangers to power parawing. In some film and television works, it is common to see scenes where someone rides a motorized parachute out of danger. The "Snow Goose" CQ-10A UAV uses this type of parafoil, but the parachute is controlled by the operator on the ground or the automatic control system of the drone.
The use of parafoil as a drone wing has its advantages. First, when not in use, the parachute can be bundled and tied to the upper part of the cargo hold, taking up no space. Second, the weight of the parachute is very light, it can be opened when windy, and there is no need for too many supporting systems, and the saved weight can be used to transport heavier goods. Third, the lift of the parafoil is stronger, which allows it to set up more cargo compartments and pull more goods. This is also the reason why the "Snow Goose" CQ-10A UAV is no more than 3 meters long, but it is designed with 6 cargo compartments and a maximum take-off weight of 600 kg.
This compact and practical design, coupled with the ability to navigate and land at the designated location with GPS and mechanical control instruments, made the "Snow Goose" CQ-10A UAV once exported to other countries, and its subsequent development has also attracted attention.
But later, MMIST modified the "Snow Goose" CQ-10B UAV on the basis of the "Snow Goose" CQ-10A UAV, and the "predecessor" used a parachute as a wing, and the "Snow Goose" CQ-10B UAV changed to the same rotor structure as ***.
This improvement, on the one hand, is the result of changes in demand, and on the other hand, it also reflects the disadvantages of flying by parafoil. For example, although the "Snow Goose" CQ-10A UAV can be carried on transport aircraft and can also be released from "Humvee" vehicles, in general, it needs a special projection system to provide support; Although the horsepower of the engines is getting stronger, there has been no fundamental shift in the state of the motorized paramotor's vulnerability to changes in wind forces; In addition, the large size of the motor wing is also easy to be noticed by opponents, which is also its innate and insurmountable disadvantage.
As a result, the "Snow Goose" CQ-10B UAV, which has stronger maneuverability, began to appear.
However, this does not mean the end of the development of paragliding drones. The advantages of paragliding flight, coupled with its stable flight at both high and ultra-low altitudes, are destined to continue to play a role in some specific occasions, and even find new uses in the future.
*: People's Liberation Army Daily.