Unmanned Vehicles

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A community for news and discussion around various types of unmanned vehicles whether they be UAVs, USVs, UGVs or otherwise. The scope of this community includes civil and military contexts.

News and discussion of all types of systems designed to counter and protect from unmanned vehicles are welcome too!

Not to be pedantic, but I also include any kind of practical robotics, even if it is stationary, part of "unmanned vehicles", so a stationary turret is fine to post here.

Anyone is welcome to post here, and the scope of content can include anything from sharing an unmanned vehicle you made yourself to articles about the political implications of unmanned vehicles in society.

Rules: Follow the spirit of Sopuli moderation rules, unmanned vehicles are like most other things inherently political but please keep in mind the focus of this community!

Edit I don't generally double post to the Sopuli Ukraine community and here, so definitely follow the Ukraine community as well if you are interested in these things, Ukraine is at the cutting edge currently.

https://sopuli.xyz/c/ukraine

founded 8 months ago

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supersquirrel@sopuli.xyz

China’s Big R6000 Tiltrotor Drone Has Entered Full Flight Testing (www.twz.com)

submitted 2 months ago by supersquirrel@sopuli.xyz to c/unmanned_vehicles@sopuli.xyz

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[–] IndignantIguana@piefed.social 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I think I read that the problems with the Osprey weren't engineering, they were things like since the rotors are so much smaller than a helicopter they have to move a smaller volume of air much faster to provide the same lift, and that can shred landing pads from the force of it, and because the air column moves so fast they put so much dust and debris in the air it can cause visibility issues around the landing site. How will this be any different?

[–] supersquirrel@sopuli.xyz 2 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

The disadvantage of a bicopter tiltrotor is the blades and engine must work harder than a traditional helicopter because of the smaller props meant to work for forward flight as well.

That being said bicopter tiltrotors such as the Osprey and Cheyenne II are undeniably the future, they just aren't as optimized for hovering as a normal helicopter.

https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/citations/ADA167719

Trade-off studies were conducted wherein two versions of tilt rotor aircraft were examined to determine optimum mission distances where the tilt rotor designs were superior to a comparable contemporary pure helicopter. Two FORTRAN computer programs VASCOMP II and HESCOMP were used to predict aircraft performance. Program results were validated using data from independent sources. A simplified users manual is included with sample data and program output for VASCOMP II. The experimental results substantiate that the V-22, designated to replace the CH-46F among other aircraft, will offer significant improvements in speed, loiter endurance, hover endurance, performance, and efficiency. The results lend further credence to the manufacturers claims that tilt rotor aircraft can transport more passengerspayload over longer distances in less time than conventional helicopters while retaining the important advantage of vertical takeoff and landing. It is acknowledged that the tilt rotor can readily perform transport missions using less fuel than helicopters but if a large percentage of hovering flight is required, conventional rotary wing aircraft are far more efficient than a fuel consumption standpoint. However, they do not have the staying power that the tilt rotor demonstrates.

https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2026/5/29/commentary-cheyenne-ii-can-transform-networked-medical-evacuation

In Afghanistan, Marine units used the Osprey to extend evacuation coverage into areas where conventional helicopters struggled to preserve medically meaningful timelines, compressing distance and helping sustain survival rates under challenging conditions.

Those lessons are directly relevant to the Army’s future operating environment. Like the Osprey, the MV-75 offers a way to overcome the tyranny of distance that defines the Indo-Pacific. Unlike earlier platforms, however, it is being designed from the outset around a digital backbone. That distinction matters, because it creates an opportunity not simply to evacuate patients faster, but to fundamentally change how care is coordinated, communicated and delivered during flight.

https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2026/5/29/commentary-cheyenne-ii-can-transform-networked-medical-evacuation