The Protor: Convertible Airscrew is an airscrew design which attempts to increase the viability and performance of VTOL aircraft while in translational flight by achieving higher airspeeds. The design transforms the rotors from their VTOL configuration into a higher airspeed optimised geometry. This allows the thruster to maintain efficiency in hover but increases the air’s exit velocity in cruise and therefore increases the maximum air speed of the vehicle.

The previous five theses on the Protor: Convertible Airscrew have demonstrated the theoretical effectiveness of the design but have yet to produce a testable model to physically prove the convertible airscrew’s design. Protor VI, this project, has achieved the milestone of producing a testable hardware implementation which has undergone initial testing which have shown promising results, but further higher airspeed testing is required.

This project focused on iterative designs where CAD assemblies were generated and reviewed, building on previous iterations until a final design was completed. Once ordered, manufactured, and built, the design was tested in airspeeds ranging from 0-9m/s using a vortex fan to generate a headwind.

To produce an accurate, functioning design able to spin and articulate at thousands of RPMs, a high degree of precision in manufacturing was required and therefore CNC machined components were used as well as off the shelf precision parts.

The Protor VI: Convertible Airscrew has helped close the gap between VTOL and high-speed travel.