Bell unveils radical concept helicopter that can change the shape of its blade for different conditions

Aerospace manufacturer Bell Helicopter unveiled their rotorcraft concept at Heli-Expo in Dallas, Texas this week. 

The FCX-001 aircraft's frame is made from advanced sustainable materials, a hybrid power system, with a piloting system that can be controlled through augmented reality and an artificial intelligence computer assistant.

The passenger cabin has individualized entertainment systems, allowing passengers to watch TV, hold video conference calls and share documents with other passengers.

Aerospace manufacturer Bell Helicopter unveiled their rotorcraft concept at Heli-Expo in Dallas, Texas this week

The aircraft has an anti-torque system in the tail boom designed to improve safety, reduce noise and improve its performance. 

Torque is a force that is the reaction of the rotor spinning around.

When the engine turns the rotor, there is an equal and opposite force that tries to turn the helicopter itself in the opposite direction. 

This is similar to when someone uses an electric drill and it spins out of their hand when it becomes dislodged from whatever it's drilling. 

So to prevent the body of a helicopter from spinning around, anti-torque systems were developed - they're a small propeller at the end of the aircraft. 

The aircraft has morphing rotor blades that can change shape, allowing the aircraft to optimize performance in different flight conditions. 

The aircraft has morphing rotor blades that can change shape, allowing the aircraft to optimize performance in different flight conditions

The FCX-001 aircraft's frame is made from advanced sustainable materials and is based on a hybrid power system

The airframe of the helicopter will harvest, store and distribute external energy or system energy not already being used for work on the air vehicle. 

The airframe has also been designed to improve the aircraft's visibility and it customizable.   

The aircraft has an anti-torque system in the tail boom designed to improve safety, reduce noise and improve its performance

'Six months ago we created a dedicated team to focus on emerging technologies and how we could incorporate them into our products,' said Bell Helicopter's President and CEO Mitch Snyder said during the Heli-Expo

 The helicopter's hybrid propulsion system is composed of a thermal engine core which drives the main propulsion and feeds into the electric motors that provide power to the anti-torque propeller.

There is a single pilot seat in the front of the aircraft and the piloting system can be controlled through augmented reality and an artificial intelligence computer assistance system 

The passenger entertainment system will also be enhanced with the same augmented reality technology used for the piloting system 

Its landing gear has non-traditional geometries that make it easier for the aircraft to function. 

There is a single pilot seat in the front of the aircraft and a modular passenger cabin enhanced with the same augmented reality technology for the entertainment system. 

The helicopter's hybrid propulsion system is composed of a thermal engine core which drives the main propulsion and feeds into the electric motors that provide power to the anti-torque propeller. dailymail

'Among that team’s first tasks was to display visually the technologies and innovations that present a roadmap that we envision bringing to market,' said Bell Helicopter's President and CEO Mitch Snyder said during the Heli-Expo

The airframe of the helicopter will harvest, store and distribute external energy or system energy not already being used for work on the air vehicle. dailymail

'Six months ago we created a dedicated team to focus on emerging technologies and how we could incorporate them into our products,' said Bell Helicopter's President and CEO Mitch Snyder said during the Heli-Expo. 

'Among that team’s first tasks was to display visually the technologies and innovations that present a roadmap that we envision bringing to market,' he said. 

Bell Helicopter said that they built the concept aircraft to address the evolving demands of their customers. dailymail

THE FCX-001 AIRCRAFT - SPECS 

Bell Helicopter said that they built the concept aircraft to address the evolving demands of their customers.

Some of the features of the FCX-001 concept rotorcraft include: 

• Aircraft frame made from advanced sustainable materials
• Anti-torque system in the tail boom designed to improve safety 
• Airframe will harvest, store and distribute external energy or system energy
• Morphing rotor blades to optimize performance in different flight regimes
• Hybrid propulsion system composed of a thermal engine core
• Piloting system that can be controlled through augmented reality
• Artificial intelligence computer assistance system
• Augmented reality passenger cabin entertainment systems, including the ability to watch TV, hold a video conference call and share documents with other passengers