Vitruvius.

A quadrotor that loses a motor is a stone. A hexrotor that loses a motor is still a flying machine — degraded, but flying. For the missions Vitruvius is designed for — inspecting wind turbines, carrying payloads over forest, working in places where a controlled descent is not always available — that distinction is the whole point.

Six rotors also let us run each motor at lower load, which means smaller propellers, slower tip speeds, and a far quieter machine than a comparable quadcopter at the same lift.

The frame is a hexagonal lattice of bamboo splints woven around a central walnut hub. Vitruvian geometry is not decoration; it is how the structure works. Each of the six arms is supported by two neighbouring arms via tension members, distributing rotor loads across the whole frame rather than concentrating them at the hub.

The walnut hub is turned from reclaimed stock, drilled and pinned rather than glued. Every electronic component sits inside it, and every component is accessible by removing two pins.

Redundancy by design

Vitruvius runs two flight controllers in parallel — one primary, one dormant — with automatic crossover on fault. The IMU is triple-redundant. The power distribution is split: any three motors can fail and the airframe will continue to fly to a controlled landing.

• inspection Wind turbine and bridge inspection — large standoff sensor work.
• cinematography Heavy-camera aerial work, full-frame mirrorless and beyond.
• logistics Remote-area medical and supply delivery — clinics, research stations.
• research Atmospheric sampling, payload-heavy science work.

Vitruvius is currently in structural design. The frame has passed bench tests for static load and vibration; flight testing of the first prototype is scheduled for the third quarter of MMXXVI, with limited customer trials following six months later.

We are particularly interested in early partnerships with inspection contractors and cinematography houses where Vitruvius would replace a heavier, louder, less repairable machine.