Based on Korean War experience, the Marine Corps expressed an interest in an ultralight one-man helicopter (or "Rotorcycle") in 1952 resulting in a Navy Bureau of Aeronautics design competition. Contracts were awarded for two designs: the coaxial [Gyrodyne XRON-1] (http://www.gyrodynehelicopters.com/xron_history.htm) and the more conventional [Hiller XROE-1] (http://www.hiller.org/event/rotorcycle/), evaluated as the YRON-1 and YROE-1 respectively. In addition to being air-droppable for rescue and evacuation other envisioned roles included surveillance and observation, courier work or transport for small but critical items (e.g. radio batteries).

Both designs flew successfully, but the concept in general proved flawed. The requirement was for helicopters as easy to use and maintain as motor vehicles, and though both designs were made as easy to fly as possible it would still have been difficult for an inexperienced pilot ("Any attempt to qualify non-helicopter pilots as YRON-1 rotorcycle operators without benefit of previous instruction in a dual control helicopter would be extremely hazardous to both the trainee and the rotorcycle" - Marine Corps Equipment Board, Final Report on One-Man Rotorcycle). Even for experienced pilots Rotorcycles presented challenges, the light weight being susceptible to gusts of wind and rough air, and the lack of a cockpit structure gave a pilot no reference to use to control attitude.

For other roles such as observation and resupply the short range and endurance, small payload and vulnerability of the Rotorcycle greatly limited its utility compared to larger and more flexible helicopters. As helicopter technology improved, particularly with turbine engines, the requirement was shelved, neither the Gyrodyne or Hiller aircraft entered service or were used operationally.

The XRON-1 did, however, form the basis for the Drone Anti-Submarine Helicopter (DASH) project of the 1960s, designed to improve the anti-submarine capability of ships too small to operate a conventional helicopter. One of the first Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, the [QH-50] (http://www.gyrodynehelicopters.com/dash_history.htm) replaced the pilot of the XRON-1 with remote control equipment, and could carry two torpedoes or a Mark 57 nuclear depth bomb.

Further reading:
[Hiller YROE-1 Rotorcycle at the Smithsonian] (https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/hiller-yroe-1-rotorcycle)
[Gyrodyne QH-50C Drone Anti-Submarine Helicopter at the Smithsonian] (https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/gyrodyne-qh-50c-drone-anti-submarine-helicopter-dash)
[Flight magazine no. 2625, May 1959] (https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1959/1959%20-%201364.html), "Helicopters of the World"
[Flight magazine no. 2646, September 1963] (https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1963/1963%20-%201718.html), "Remote-control Killer"
Marine Corps Equipment Board, Final Report on One-Man Rotorcycle
Marines and Helicopters 1946-1962, Lieutenant Colonel Eugene W. Rawlins, USMC

What museum was this?