Advanced Tactics Inc. was awarded a contract for the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Special Ops Transport Challenge in June 2012. The program aims to leverage Advanced Tactics unique roadable vertical takeoff and landing vehicle technology to solve the challenge put forth for the Special Ops Transport Challenge, announced in mid-2011.

The primary goals of the challenge are as follows:

• Transport at least two people and their equipment (700 lb total) without being detected
• Provide transport and safe return over a distance of at least 30 kilometers over rugged, mountainous terrain
• Permit packaging for delivery or shipping in the CV-22 cargo hold
• Be able to transition from storage to operation in under four hours
• Operate autonomously in day/night and inclement weather conditions
• Consider OSHA and Air Force safety standards for manned vehicles

Configuration Advanced Tactics platform utilizes a unique distributed lift design and is expected to meet or exceed all goals of the challenge. The awarded contract will fund an effort to study and design the objective vehicle as well as prototype and test some of the system’s critical elements. The vehicle leverages AT’s TRANSFORMER Technology: a multicopter configuration for vertical takeoff and landing flight and a ground drive system for ground mobility. The vehicle can quickly transform between these two modes of operation.

Development The AFRL TRANSFORMER has is currently being tested and validated. Significant core research, concept design, prototype development, and testing has been completed for the AFRL TRANSFORMER vehicle. The image to the right shows a scaled prototype flown recently.

For more information on the AFRL Special Ops Transport Challenge, visit www.afrlchallenge.com.