Tactical Robotics Cormorant

The Cormorant is a compact, unmanned, single-engine, VTOL (Vertical Take Off and Landing) aircraft. Internal lift rotors enable the Cormorant to fly inside obstructed (e.g. mountainous, wooded, urban) terrain where helicopters are unable to operate. The Cormorant's particulary innovative features are its internal rotors and significant payload capacity that allows for the evacuation of 2 casualties as well as fast and flexible payload reconfiguration for other missions. The Cormorant is a prototype proof of concept for the Urban Aeronautics CityHawk.

Technical Details

Aircraft Type: Wingless VTOL

Powerplant: Single Turbomeca Arriel 2N Turboshaft (985 shp)

Range: 31 miles

Top Speed: 112 mph

Propeller Configuration: Two integrated lifting propellers

Passenger/Payload Capacity: 2 passengers or up to 1,100 lb payload

Autonomy Level: Autonomous

Wingspan/Dimensions: 24.8ft length, 8.2ft width, 7.7ft height

Currently, the main application for the Cormorant remains as its original design: an unmanned MEDEVAC and CASEVAC capable vehicle. It will be used in search and rescue operations where it would be too dangerous or inaccessible for a helicopter, such as evacuating people from the upper stories of burning buildings, or delivering and extracting police and soldiers while very close to structures, narrow streets, and or through holes into confined spaces. Due to this fact, the current design of the Cormorant is unaccommodating for applications in the urban aerial rideshare sector (the space inside available can only accommodate two adults lying down side by side). However, Tactical Robotics' parent company, Urban Aeronautics, is aiming developing the Cormorant into more advanced vehicle for passenger applications as well in addition to MEDEVAC.  Since 2018, no new videos of the Cormorant have been released, but parent company Urban Aeronautics is actively working on taking the aircraft to the next steps.