Tactical Robotics Cormorant
Ducted-fan UAV for medical evacuation and urban rescue.
Last updated
Rafi Yoeli · CC BY-SA 4.0
The Tactical Robotics Cormorant, formerly known as the AirMule or Mule and assigned the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) codename Pereira (Hebrew for 'Dragonfly'), is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) built by Tactical Robotics Ltd., a subsidiary of Urban Aeronautics Ltd., in Yavne, Israel. It is a ducted-fan flying car designed for search and rescue operations in environments too dangerous or inaccessible for conventional helicopters, such as evacuating people from upper stories of burning buildings or delivering and extracting personnel in narrow streets, close to structures, or through holes into confined spaces.
Background
The Cormorant's development was spurred by the 2006 Lebanon War, after which the IDF identified a need for an unmanned vehicle capable of evacuating wounded from behind enemy lines without the landing-area constraints of helicopters. The initial concept was civilian, but shifted to military use following plans to equip US Marines with human-transporting UAVs. A scaled-down technology demonstrator, the Panda, first flew in June 2008. The first full-size prototype, then called the AirMule, completed its tethered maiden flight on January 12, 2010, reaching an altitude of 2 feet.
By April 21, 2010, it achieved sustained tethered hovering at up to 9.8 feet, leading to untethered flight later that year. The second prototype, begun in October 2011, incorporated double-redundant hydraulics and stealth features. On May 29, 2018, the Cormorant completed its first live demonstration.
Did You Know?
- The initial prototype used four-blade rotors, later upgraded to six-blade rotors to increase payload by about 200 kg.
- The fuselage is constructed from carbon composite and generates over 50% of lift at high speed via an airfoil shape.
- Early hover tests measured interior cabin noise at 95 decibels without acoustic treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Tactical Robotics Cormorant?
The Cormorant is an Israeli ducted-fan unmanned aerial vehicle built for search-and-rescue missions, previously known as the AirMule or simply Mule, and assigned the IDF codename Pereira, which translates to 'Dragonfly' in Hebrew.
When did the Cormorant first take to the air?
Its initial tethered flight occurred on January 12, 2010, and it achieved its first untethered flight later in 2010, after April 21. The vehicle's first live public demonstration was held on May 29, 2018.
What powers the Cormorant?
The UAV is driven by a Turbomeca Arriel 1D1 turbofan in early prototypes, with the design subsequently upgrading to the Turbomeca Arriel 2.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Tactical Robotics Cormorant (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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