After a nerve-racking flying experience, aerospace engineer Hector (Haofeng) Xu was inspired to make helicopter flight safer. In 2021, he founded autonomous helicopter company Rotor Technologies, Inc. This company retrofits existing helicopters with sensors and software to automate dangerous flights and prevent pilot accidents. Xu was pursuing his PhD at MIT’s Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics at the time of his realization, and he continues his affiliation with MIT as a research affiliate.
Rotor Technologies’ autonomous helicopters can fly faster, longer, and carry heavier payloads than battery-powered drones. The company works with traditional, reliable helicopter models to enable quick commercialization. Demo flights have already commenced around its headquarters in Nashua, New Hampshire and customers will be able to purchase later this year.
Rotor’s autonomous technology didn’t emerge from MIT’s labs, but Xu credits his studies at MIT and his mentorship from Professor Steven Barrett as central to shaping his vision for the future of aviation. Xu’s first hire was Rotor’s current Chief Technology Officer, Yiou He, whom Xu collaborated with during his PhD. Many of the company’s 50 employees are MIT affiliates.
Rotor follows a “fly-by-wire” system which employs computers and motors that interact with the helicopter’s flight control features. The helicopters are also equipped with advanced communication tools and sensors, adapted from the autonomous vehicle industry. The goal is to build a robust autonomous system that includes strong communication links between the aircraft and the ground. The company also provides 24/7 monitoring of flights with a cloud-based human supervision system called Cloudpilot.
Rotor’s autonomous helicopters are designed to offer a safer, more efficient alternative to traditional helicopters, especially for high-risk missions like fighting fires or delivering cargo to offshore sites. These aircraft, named the R550X, can carry loads up to 1,212 pounds, travel more than 120 miles per hour, and stay in the air for hours when equipped with auxiliary fuel tanks. Rotor aims to sell a handful of these aircraft this year and plans to produce 50 to 100 aircraft per year moving forward. Ultimately, Xu hopes to see Rotor contributing to human transportation, making flying safer, more autonomous, and more affordable.
