Astro and Paterson Composites partner to build autonomous Passenger Drone
The drone is designed to reduce aircraft weight and magnetic interference using fiber-optic technology, and the exterior is built with carbon fiber materials.
Astro Aerospace Ltd. (Lewisville, TX, US) announced June 11 its partnership with carbon composite manufacturer Paterson Composites (Toronto, ON, Canada). Paterson Composites will work with Astro to construct the entire airframe of a passenger drone including the cockpit, frame, and propeller blades.
Astro’s Passenger Drone enables passengers to fly manually or autonomously. The fully-functional prototype includes VTOL capabilities and hosts 16 individual rotors. The drone is designed to reduce aircraft weight and magnetic interference using fiber-optic technology, and the exterior is built with carbon fiber materials.
The collaboration between Astro and Paterson Composites is for the second version of the passenger drone which will available for purchase by the public upon production completion. As part of the partnership Rob Paterson, president and CEO of Paterson Composites, will be joining Astro Design Team as an advisor, along with a group of industrial engineers that will join the development team.
[Editorial correction: The location of Astro was previously reported in error as Carpinteria, CA, US, which is the location of Astro Aerospace, a subsidiary of Northrop Grumman. Astro Aerospace Ltd., located in Lewisville, TX, US, is not affiliated with the Northrop Gumman subsidiary.]
Related Content
-
PEEK vs. PEKK vs. PAEK and continuous compression molding
Suppliers of thermoplastics and carbon fiber chime in regarding PEEK vs. PEKK, and now PAEK, as well as in-situ consolidation — the supply chain for thermoplastic tape composites continues to evolve.
-
Manufacturing the MFFD thermoplastic composite fuselage
Demonstrator’s upper, lower shells and assembly prove materials and new processes for lighter, cheaper and more sustainable high-rate future aircraft.
-
The potential for thermoplastic composite nacelles
Collins Aerospace draws on global team, decades of experience to demonstrate large, curved AFP and welded structures for the next generation of aircraft.