science

Sikorsky Cypher

Sikorsky Cypher is a science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Sikorsky Cypher rather than just read about it. In short: The Sikorsky Cypher and Cypher II are types of unmanned aerial vehicles developed by Sikorsky Aircraft. They are vertical takeoff and landing aircraft which use two opposing rotors enclosed in a circular shroud for propulsion.

Key takeaways

Sikorsky Cypher belongs to science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Sikorsky Cypher to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Sikorsky Cypher from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

The Sikorsky Cypher and Cypher II are types of unmanned aerial vehicles developed by Sikorsky Aircraft. They are vertical takeoff and landing aircraft which use two opposing rotors enclosed in a circular shroud for propulsion.

Design and development

Cypher Sikorsky began work on the Cypher in the late 1980s as a small unmanned aerial vehicle with coaxial rotors enclosed within a torus-shaped shroud. The circular duct improved handling safety and added lift. The first proof-of-concept aircraft measured 1.75 m (5.7 ft) in diameter and 55 cm (1.80 ft) in height, weighed 20 kg (44 lb), and flew in the summer of 1988 powered by a four-stroke 2.85 kW (3.82 hp) engine. For early trials it was mounted on a truck to conduct forward-flight tests. A larger prototype followed, with a diameter of 1.9 m (6.2 ft), weight of 110 kg (240 lb), and a 40 kW (54 hp) Wankel engine. It achieved its first flight in April 1992 and its first free flight in 1993. Over the remainder of the decade the vehicle accumulated more than 550 demonstration flights for U.S. government agencies. The Cypher could carry a sensor payload mounted above the fuselage or transport external loads of up to 23 kg (51 lb). The program provided the basis for the follow-on Cypher II, which was submitted to the United States Navy’s VT-UAV competition.

Cypher II Sikorsky developed the Cypher II as an enlarged derivative of the original design. Two prototypes were constructed for evaluation by the United States Marine Corps, which designated the type Dragon Warrior. Externally similar in diameter to the first Cypher, the Cypher II incorporated a rear-mounted pusher propeller to improve forward thrust. It could also be fitted with detachable wings to extend endurance

Specifications (Cypher) General characteristics

Crew: none Capacity: 50 lb (23 kg) Length: 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Wingspan: 4 ft 0 in (1.22 m) Height: 2 ft 0 in (0.61 m) Wing area: 25.2 sq ft (2.4 m2) Gross weight: 264 lb (120 kg) Max takeoff weight: 300–340 lb (136–154 kg) Powerplant: 1 × UAV Engines AR801 Wankel rotary engine, 50 hp (37 kW) Performance

Maximum speed: 52 kn (60 mph, 97 km/h) Range: 49–67 nmi (56–77 mi, 90–125 km) depending on model Endurance: 2-3 hours Service ceiling: 8,000 ft (2,440 m) Wing loading: 9.9 lb/sq ft (47.5 kg/m2) Power/mass: 0.2 hp/lb (0.32 kW/kg) Avionics

EO, FLIR, small radars, chemical detectors and magnetometers, radio relay, and non-lethal payloads

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Sikorsky Cypher

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Sikorsky Cypher claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Sikorsky Cypher before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Sikorsky Cypher ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Sikorsky Cypher

In research: Sikorsky Cypher appears in science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Sikorsky Cypher in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Sikorsky Cypher is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics 1990s United States military reconnaissance aircraft, Aircraft first flown in 1988, Flying saucers, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Sikorsky Cypher outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Sikorsky Cypher in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Sikorsky Cypher means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Sikorsky Cypher out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Sikorsky Cypher in simple terms?

Why does Sikorsky Cypher matter?

Because it connects several science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Sikorsky Cypher?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Sikorsky Cypher.