Browse Topic: Vertical take-off and landing (VTOL)

Items (118)

In emergency situations, every second counts - but long distances to rural areas and congested city traffic often increase the time it takes to transport a patient to a hospital. Jump Aero is mobilizing eVTOL aircraft as a solution to cut emergency response time in half and save thousands of lives. Co-founders Carl Dietrich, President/Chief Designer, and Katerina Barilov, Head of Business Development, discuss their passion for the Jump Aero mission. Hear more about how electric aircraft can reduce the time it takes to get a responder on the scene, why their EMTs are required to learn how to fly an airplane, and how their commitment to engage with EMS communities builds partnerships and trust. Stay up to date on the latest news from Jump Aero: https://www.jumpaero.com/

Hineman, Marcie

SAE TOMORROW TODAY: Mark Moore's New Start-Up Making Noise with Quieter Electric Aircraft

1316810/22/2021

A new age of flight is taking shape from brilliant engineers who are redefining how lower carbon emissions, minimal noise pollution and reduced maintenance costs can work together. Mark Moore's newest venture, Whisper Aero, is combating busier skyways with a new electric thruster design that reduces noise to a near-imperceptible level. Moore, a former NASA engineer and Uber Elevate executive, discusses the need for sustainable eVTOL, eCTOL and eSTOL aircraft, how eliminating noise will aid public adoption, and why he decided to set up camp in Crossville, Tenn. Stay updated on the latest news from Whisper Aero: https://www.whisper.aero/

Hineman, Marcie

Rotorcraft: Application of Existing Aircraft Designed Tires, Wheels and Brakes

ARP5632 (Current)04/23/2021

This document covers recommendations for the application of existing qualified and approved in-service fixed wing aircraft tires, wheels and brakes to military and commercial rotorcraft. NOTE: This document does not address the use of radial tires due to insufficient data to support their approved use on rotorcraft, see paragraph 4.3.14 for specific impact on ground resonance.

A-5 Aerospace Landing Gear Systems Committee

Pyrofuse Modeling for eVTOL Aircraft DC Protection

2021-01-004103/02/2021

Contemporary trends are leading towards the electrification of aircraft for urban mobility applications. Accordingly, there is a high demand for advancements in light-weight, high voltage technologies to realize these new aircraft types. Driven by recent developments in the automotive industry, hybrid Pyrofuse protection devices have emerged as one such new candidate technology. Pyrofuses offer rapid clearance of fault currents, reduced cost and weight when compared to conventional mechanical breakers. In addition, Pyrofuses have the ability to tune the time-current curve to fit the application’s fault response characteristics. However, Pyrofuses are non-resettable devices whose exclusive use for electrical protection could present potential operational hazards and certification challenges in aerospace applications. Model-based analysis will be critical in supporting this evaluation. Accordingly, this paper offers the first complete design methodology to transiently model Pyrofuse

Altouq, Shadan, Fong, Kenny, Norman, Patrick, Burt, Graeme

SAE TOMORROW TODAY: 2020 Recap: How Aerospace Innovation Takes Flight

1293302/26/2021

Imagine calling for an Uber and having an eVTOL show up to take you to your destination. Imagine traveling at supersonic speeds without the booming and disruptive noise. Imagine taking off in an airplane that has absolutely no pilot. On this last installment of our 2020 Recap Series, we're not only imagining this innovation, we're exploring how aerospace and mobility leaders are making it a reality. Our guests throughout the year have come from leading companies across industries including aircraft design, aerospace and autonomy. On this episode discover the advances in commercial travel and how Siemens Digital Industries Software is saving you time, explore how Uber Elevate is changing the game for rideshare, and how Aerion is solving the noise issue of supersonic travel.

Hineman, Marcie

Rotary Unmanned Aerial Systems

TBMG-3854202/01/2021

Steadicopter Ltd. Migdal ha Emek, Israel 972-4-9592959

Designing Connectivity Solutions for an Electric Aircraft Future

TBMG-3788710/01/2020

Battery Improvement Enhances Electric Flight and Long-Range Electric Cars

TBMG-3779810/01/2020

In the pursuit of a rechargeable battery that can power electric vehicles (EVs) for hundreds of miles on a single charge, scientists have endeavored to replace the graphite anodes currently used in EV batteries with lithium metal anodes. But while lithium metal extends an EV's driving range by 30 to 50%, it also shortens the battery's useful life due to lithium dendrites — tiny, treelike defects that form on the lithium anode over the course of many charge and discharge cycles. Dendrites also short-circuit the cells in the battery if they make contact with the cathode.

Designing Connectivity Solutions for an Electric Aircraft Future

20AERP10_0310/01/2020

The levels of voltage and current needed in electric-powered vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOL), personal air vehicles (PAVs), and rotorcraft systems are high and going higher. That's because electric propulsion motors, inverters, controllers, batteries, and sensor-laden electric aircraft require significant amounts of power. High voltages and high kW peak outputs present many implementation challenges. Designers can meet these challenges by understanding how proper product selection and a “follow-the-wire” design approach enable high-power connectivity solutions. Some of the hurdles that designers need to overcome include the following.

SAE TOMORROW TODAY: The Future of Urban Air Mobility

1289406/19/2020

We take to the sky as a pioneering voice in VTOL, Mark Moore, the Engineering Director of Aviation at Uber Elevate, joins host Grayson Brulte to walk through his journey from NASA to Uber and how eVTOLs (electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft) will lead to redesigned cities with transportation freedom. Mark breaks down the misconceptions of eVTOLs and their benefits compared to helicopters, including reduced noise pollution and the safety parameters built into eVTOL design that create thrusting control redundancies to ensure continued operation even if a part is broken. He shares his unique perspective on how the traditional roles of commercial operators and government agencies have flipped with Silicon Valley leading the charge on the technological innovations and capital investment for eVTOLs. The two discuss Uber's Elevate strategy of collaboration for the establishment of an ecosystem of developers, public officials and key stakeholders to make the endeavor a reality. Mark

Hineman, Marcie

SAE TOMORROW TODAY: Times When You Have to Take the Right Risk

1289206/05/2020

David Estrada, Chief Legal Officer at Nuro, joins host Grayson Brulte to discuss the leading factors of the mobility revolution. David kicks off by sharing the familial inspiration that shaped his well-rounded perspective. The two dive right in to how mobility has changed over the past two years and the role that tech companies' heavy investment in self-driving cars will shape the future. David then shares his perspective on how an elected official's first impression of riding in an AV compared to his own. Grayson and David dig into how the vision of Larry Page at Google pushed investment and development into AV. David then shares insights on driving behaviors and what kinds of trips can be replaced by AVs. The two look at what's next for Nuro's AV delivery services, why Houston as the ideal test market for AV delivery services, the benefits of Nuro's vehicles and the greatest challenges for scaling services. The AV conversation shifts to why SAE Level 2 automated systems will

Hineman, Marcie

Design Optimization and Aerodynamic Analysis of a Hybrid Blended Wing Body- VTOL Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

2020-01-047204/14/2020

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) can be effectively used to serve humanitarian relief efforts during environmental disasters. Designing such UAVs presents challenges in optimizing design variables such as maximizing endurance, maneuverability and payload capacity with minimum launch and recovery area. The Blended Wing Body (BWB) is a novel aircraft configuration offering enhanced performance over conventional UAVs. Designing a blended wing configuration UAV takes into account interdependency between aerodynamic performance and stability. Designing BWB is peculiar and is investigated in this paper with a view to achieve an aerodynamically stable and structurally sound configuration. The designed UAV is a hybrid of a tailless blended-wing-body and a tri-copter configuration with two forward tilt motors for transition into cruise flight after vertical take-off and back to multirotor while landing (VTOL-Vertical Take Off and Landing). The BWB is iteratively optimized in XFLR-5 for Dynamic

Bahl, Pranav, Rastogi, Vikas, bainsla, Amit, Sharma, Nitin

Multiple Sensors Aid in Development of an Electrical Vertical Takeoff and Landing Aircraft

TBMG-3615703/01/2020

Beta Technologies (South Burlington, VT) has built a prototype Electrical Vertical Takeoff and Landing aircraft (eVTOL) and is putting it through the wringer. They are using wireless sensor systems from Parker LORD, MicroStrain® Sensing Systems (Williston, VT) to monitor the structures and functions of the prototype, both on a test stand and in flight.

Hyundai, Uber show electric VTOL air-taxi concept

20AUTP03_1103/01/2020

Hyundai at CES 2020 revealed a fullsize electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing (eVTOL) “air taxi” concept and confirmed it has joined Uber's aerial ride-share initiative known as Elevate. Hyundai said the S-A1 concept, in addition to its VTOL configuration, is designed for cruising speeds up to 180 mph (290 km/h) for trips of up to 60 miles (97 km). Operating altitudes are targeted at between 1,000 to 2,000 ft. (300 to 600 m) for the four-passenger vehicle. The S-A1's performance is within Uber Elevate's broad guidance for urban aero-rideshare designs. The craft's distributed-electric, multiple-rotor configuration further increases safety, the company claims, while having several smaller rotors reduces overall flight noise. Hyundai added that the eventual goal is for the aerial taxi to operate without a pilot. But the most significant aspect of Hyundai joining Uber Elevate may be the automaker's established capability in high-volume, high-quality vehicle production. Hyundai is the first

Visnic, Bill

Aircraft Vertical Takeoff and Landing

TBMG-3528410/01/2019

NASA’s Langley Research Center developed an inexpensive, long-endurance, vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). It is capable of flying for 24 hours, landing in a 50 × 50 zone, and can be loaded into the back of a cargo van for easy transport. In addition, it can land in either a horizontal or vertical flight configuration.

DARPA’s latest drone swarm sprint focuses on virtual environments

SAE-MA-0346305/13/2019

Through OFFSET, DARPA envisions swarms of 250 collaborative autonomous systems – including unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) – providing critical capabilities to ground units in urban areas where challenges such as tall buildings, tight spaces, and limited sight lines constrain essential communications, sensing, maneuverability, and autonomous operations.

Kucinski, William

Is the Future of Aerial Autonomy Up in the Air?

19AVEP03_1303/01/2019

As autonomous-drone and air-taxi concepts debut, legal hurdles will need to be cleared before the skies are automated. Autonomous vehicle technology literally has nowhere to go but up. At CES '19, more than 170 exhibitors showed aerial drones of various shapes and sizes. Potential use cases for these devices appear to be limitless, but technical, legal and regulatory hurdles must first be overcome. Drones are categorized by vehicle weight. The small devices weighing between 0.55 and 55 pounds (.25 kg to 25 kg) are known as Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and are lightly regulated. Drones exceeding 55 lb are regulated as traditional aircraft. Operators must obtain proper registration, licenses and certification for airworthiness.

Dukarski, Jennifer

Aircraft Parachute Recovery Systems

TBMG-3376102/01/2019

BRS Aerospace South St. Paul, MN 651-457-7491

Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL) Aircraft with Vectored Thrust for Control and Continuously Variable Pitch Attitude in Hover

TBMG-3358401/01/2019

Most fixed-wing VTOL unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) take off vertically, then transition to horizontal flight. This is a new type of UAV that has unique capability. It can vary its hover position from “nose up” (tailsitter) to “nose forward” (non-tailsitter) incrementally and continuously, and even hold a position at any angle in between.

Numerical and Experimental Second Law Analysis of a Low Thickness High Chamber Wing Profile

2018-01-195510/30/2018

This paper presents a coupled numerical and experimental study of an unconventional wing profile such as cp-180-050-gn (Cambered plate C = 18% T = 5% R = 0.78). This wing profile deals with low speeds. It is not currently used on any aircraft model. Otherwise, it presents interesting performances that can be exploited for the design of low-speed STOL or VTOL aircraft by mean of the very high lift that it can generate and can fit with different uses such as VAWT, cyclorotors drones, which are designed explicitly for low-speed operations. After a preliminary CFD assessment of the wing a complete experimental characterisation also at high angles of attack has been performed. The excellent agreement between CFD and experiments has allowed producing a complete analysis of the behaviour of the wing profile both before and after stall conditions. This study has the objective of analysing the viability of such an unconventional wing in traditional or over-stalling conditions. A complete

Trancossi, Michele, Sharma, Shivesh

VTOL UAV with the Cruise Efficiency of a Conventional Fixed-Wing UAV

TBMG-2904406/01/2018

NASA Langley Research Center has developed Greased Lightning, the first unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that combines vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capability with long-endurance flight. Previously, these two capabilities were considered mutually exclusive; for example, helicopters offer VTOL capability, yet are inefficient for long-endurance travel.

A New VTOL Propelled Wing for Flying Cars: Critical Bibliographic Analysis

2017-01-214409/19/2017

This paper is a preliminary step in the direction of the definition of a radically new wing concept that has been conceived to maximize the lift even at low speeds. It is expected to equip new aerial vehicle concepts that aim to compete against helicopters and tilt rotors. They aim achieving very good performance at very low speed (5 to 30 m/s) by mean of an innovative concept of morphing ducted-fan propelled wing that has been designed to maximize the lift force. This paper presents an effective bibliographic analysis of the problem that is a preliminary necessary step in the direction of the preliminary design of the wing. A preliminary CFD evaluation allows demonstrating that the claimed results are in line with the initial expectations. According to the CFD, results it has been produced a preliminary energetic evaluation of the vehicle in a flying car configuration by EMIPS method. Even if the results are still preliminary, they allow evidencing a good energy efficiency of the

Trancossi, Michele, Hussain, Mohammad, Shivesh, Sharma, Pascoa, Jose

Aerodynamic Analysis of the Elytron 2S Experimental Tiltwing Aircraft

2016-01-200809/20/2016

The Elytron 2S is a prototype aircraft concept to allow VTOL capabilities together with fixed wing aircraft performance. It has a box wing design with a centrally mounted tilt-wing supporting two rotors. This paper explores the aerodynamic characteristics of the aircraft using computational fluid dynamics in hover and low speed forward flight, as well as analyzing the unique control system in place for hover. The results are then used to build an input set for NASA Design and Analysis if Rotorcraft software allowing trim and flight stability and control estimations to be made with SIMPLI-FLYD.

Grima, Alexander, Theodore, Colin, Garrow, Oliver, Lawrence, Ben, Persson, Linnea

Hover Testing of a Large Multi-Element Arc Wing VTOL Research Model

2016-01-197909/20/2016

Technology to create a VTOL for general aviation that is fast, efficient, easy to fly, and affordable, has proven elusive. Bertelsen Design LLC has built a large research model to investigate the potential of the arc wing VTOL to fulfill these attributes. The aircraft that is the subject of this paper weighs approximately 145 kg (320 lbs) and features coaxial, dual-rotating propellers, diameter 1.91 m (75 inches). Power is from an MZ 202 two-cycle, two-cylinder engine. Wingspan is 1.82 m (72 inches). The arc wing differentiates this aircraft from previous deflected-slipstream prototypes, which suffered from pitch-trim issues during transition. This paper will present configuration details of the Bertelsen model, showing how it is possible to generate high lift from a short-span wing system. The Bertelsen model can hover out of ground effect using just two arc-wing elements: a main wing and a “slat”. More importantly, the paper will show that the mechanics are in place to accomplish

Bertelsen, William D.

Research on the Quad Tilt Wing Future Civil VTOL Transport

2016-01-205509/20/2016

JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) has been conducting a research on a future commercial tilt wing VTOL (Vertical TakeOff and Landing) transport under JAXA's "Sky Frontier" Program aiming to develop technologies for aircraft innovation. The research focuses on QTW (Quad Tilt Wing) civil VTOL transport, which features tandem tilt wings with propellers mounted at the mid-span of each wing. The goals of the research in the present phase are to propose a concept of a QTW business VTOL transport system and to pursue the essential technologies development such as OEI (One-Engine-Inoperative) safe recovery, transition flight control and cruise efficient aerodynamic design. Nine passengers business QTW concept was designed and trade-off analysis of the propulsion system architecture for OEI safety was conducted. The result suggests the architecture having no cross-shaft mechanism with auto-failure-compensation is the most effective in terms of the system weight and operating cost

Muraoka, Koji, Hirabayashi, Daisuke, Sato, Masayuki, Aoki, Yoshihisa

Autonomous vehicles demonstrate ground-air cooperation

16OFHP04_0804/01/2016

Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, recently announced a joint autonomy demonstration that proved the capability of new, ground-air cooperative missions. The demonstration, which took place on Oct. 27 at Sikorsky's Development Flight Center in West Palm Beach, FL, used a UH-60MU Black Hawk helicopter enabled with Sikorsky's MATRIX Technology and CMU's Land Tamer autonomous unmanned ground vehicle (UGV). The goal for such missions is to prevent warfighters' exposure to hazardous conditions, such as chemically or radiologically contaminated areas.

Gehm, Ryan

A Multifaceted Investigation and Intervention into the Process of Flight Clearance for UAS Experimental Flight Test

2015-01-238509/15/2015

Unmanned aviation systems (UAS) acquired for US Navy for military roles are developed in the context of NAVAIR's rigorous and well-established policies, procedures and processes employed in the acquisition and development of manned aircraft. A key process is the preparation and approval of interim flight clearances (IFC) prior to flight test to ensure the aircraft is airworthy and thus safe to operate. Due to the perceived risks of UAS experimental flight test, the use of this process has been mandated for all Navy organizations, including use of commercially available UAS in research projects. This policy has proved to be a challenge, impeding and discouraging the use of UAS in research and experimental projects. Currently, the cost of compliance is unaffordable and IFC preparation and approval time are inconsistent with research cycle time expectations. The research reported here investigated the difficulties and advocates solutions devised through the application of systems

Millar, Richard C.

Multifunctional Unmanned Reconnaissance Aircraft for Low-Speed and STOL Operations

2015-01-246509/15/2015

This paper presents a novel UAS (Unmanned Aerial System) designed for excellent low speed operations and VTOL performance. This aerial vehicle concept has been designed for maximizing the advantages by of the ACHEON (Aerial Coanda High Efficiency Orienting-jet Nozzle) propulsion system, which has been studied in a European commission under 7th framework programme. This UAS concept has been named MURALS (acronym of Multifunctional Unmanned Reconnaissance Aircraft for Low-speed and STOL operation). It has been studied as a joint activity of the members of the project as an evolution of a former concept, which has been developed during 80s and 90s by Aeritalia and Capuani. It has been adapted to host an ACHEON based propulsion system. In a first embodiment, the aircraft according to the invention has a not conventional shape with a single fuselage and its primary objective is to minimize the variation of the pitching moment allowing low speed operations. The shape with convex wings has

Trancossi, Michele, Bingham, Chris, Capuani, Alfredo, Das, Shyam, Dumas, Antonio, Grimaccia, Francesco, Madonia, Mauro, Pascoa, Jose, Smith, Tim, Stewart, Paul, Subhash, Maharshi, Sunol, Anna, Vucinic, Dean

Experimental Identification of the Detachment Point on the ACHEON Thrust-Vectoring Nozzle

2015-01-246409/15/2015

Thrust vectoring is an interesting propulsion solution in aeronautic applications due to its fast response, improving aircraft's performance for take-off, landing and flight, and enabling Short/Vertical Take-Off and Landing (S/VTOL). In this context, an attempt to design a radically new concept of thrust vectoring nozzle is in current development. This novel nozzle, called ACHEON, bases the jet deviation control on the interaction of two primary jets of different velocities, where the one with higher velocity entrains the one with lower velocity. Two cylindrical walls are positioned after the two air jets mixing. If the inlet conditions are not symmetric, the Coanda effect on the walls forces the resulting air jet to divert from the symmetry axis. This paper shows the experimental pressure distribution along the Coanda wall for different inlet. Besides the generation of experimental data to be utilized for future CFD simulations validation, the obtained results provides important

Suñol Jiménez, Anna, Yang, Tao, Vucinic, Dean

Momentum: February 2015

15MOMP0202/02/2015

Taking on the Valeo Innovation Challenge Two Canadian teams-the University of Ottawa and the University of Waterloo-finished in the top 3 among about 1,000 other universities from around the world in this challenge devoted to spurring innovative ideas for transportation. Colorado State University designs fuel-cell plug-in hybrid system Competing in the EcoCAR2 competition using a Chevrolet Malibu, the Colorado State team designed a system that features a 15-kW polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell system, an 18.9-kW•h/177-kW lithium-ion battery, and a 145-kW motor. Cal State Fullerton combines art and engineering Team's submission on its Formula SAE car won first place in the second annual Generation Auto video contest organized in part by SAE International. Collaborative research project leads to potentially swarming VTOL UAVs The AVIGLE VTOL (vertical takeoff and landing) unmanned aerial vehicle was developed via collaboration by a variety of entities for a variety of applications

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH PROJECT LEADS TO POTENTIALLY SWARMING VTOL UAVS

15MOMP02_0402/01/2015

The AVIGLE VTOL (vertical takeoff and landing) unmanned aerial vehicle was developed via collaboration by a variety of entities for a variety of applications. RWTH Aachen University developed the drone's aerodynamic shape. OVER A THREE-YEAR PERIOD, German aerospace engineers from industry and academia collaborated on the AVIGLE (Avionic Digital Service Platform) research project, described as a “widely applicable avionic service platform” with open interfaces. Schübeler Composite contributed to the project during design via its knowledge and experience in fluid-flow machines and lightweighting, while the aerodynamic shape of the AVIGLE drone was developed at the RWTH Aachen University. The result of the collaboration is a UAV ready for use without infrastructure, and which addresses applications such as civil security, mobile communications, construction, GIS, and surveying, but also the entertainment market and the media. For takeoff and landing the wings are tilted 90° upward, so

Broge, Jean L.

Autonomous Black Hawk Helicopter

TBMG-20765

10/01/2014

Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation Stratford, CT 1-800-946-4337

Roto-Cycloid Propelled Airship Dimensioning and Energetic Equilibrium

2014-01-210709/16/2014

Rotocycloid propulsion presents interesting performance as a possible long-term alternative to helicopters in a far future. It will lead to increase the energy efficiency of VTOL vehicles. This paper focuses on optimization of an airship with the possibility up to 2000 h/year of photovoltaic propelled flight at a cruise speed about 20 m/s. This paper demonstrates the feasibility of this airship concept and presents a full dimensioning according to the CDE (Constructal Design for Efficiency) developed at University of Modena and Reggio Emilia. The proposed solution has been deeply analyzed and the analysis of performances has been presented. The results allow thinking to a novel class of vehicles designed specifically to take the maximum advantage by this propulsion method.

Trancossi, Michele, Dumas, Antonio, Xisto, Carlos, Pascoa, Jose, Andrisani, Andrea

Infrared Piloted Autonomous Landing: System Design and Experimental Evaluation

2014-01-219609/16/2014

This paper introduces a new equipment, which allows autonomous landing and docking of a VTOL aircraft and any mobile system. It has been studied and developed inside the MAAT (Multibody Advanced Airship for Transport) EU FP7 project to control autonomous docking of manned cruiser and feeder airships in movement. After a detailed analysis it has been verified that It could be considered a technological spin off the MAAT project. It defines a new instrumental system for governing relative positioning between a movable target and VTOL air vehicles, such as helicopters, airships and multi-copters. This solution is expected to become a short time to market equipment for helicopters (both manned and unmanned) ensuring autonomous landing ability even in case of low visibility. Infrared emitters allow controlling both position and yaws angle. It is in advanced testing phase after a preliminary successful testing using a quadcopter. Tests has produced autonomous landing on a small platform

Conte, Massimo, Trancossi, Michele

Electronics Take Charge

14AERP02_0202/01/2014

Digital controls are handling more engine control tasks on a wider range of aircraft. Electronic controls are slowly transforming aircraft engines of all types, bringing improved fuel consumption, improved efficiency, and more power. As the functionality of control units for jet engines increases, digital management is also adding more capabilities for helicopters and small piston engines. Full authority digital engine controls (FADEC) continue to leverage the advances in semiconductors and software to improve engine management. As microcontroller capabilities soar, engine controllers can handle functions beyond the engines themselves. For example, the Lockheed Martin F-35B's engine controller also manages the short takeoff/vertical landing system.

Costlow, Terry

Vertical Take-Off and Landing UAV

TBMG-1532812/01/2012

The Air Force has announced that the MLB V-Bat Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) UAV from the MLB Company (Sunnyvale, CA) has been selected for a Phase II SBIR award. The military branch seeks a vehicle that has an 8-ft wingspan, 10-hour endurance, 55-lb gross take-off weight, and 70-mph cruise speed. The V-Bat’s combination of VTOL operational convenience with the safety of a shrouded fan and fixed-wing duration in a small UAV system will enable local situational awareness for UAV operations in confined areas. Last year, under a DARPA contract, MLB demonstrated precise emplacement of small payloads from the V-Bat, operating in hover mode under a vision-based control system.

Extraordinary and Special Purpose Landing Gear Systems

AIR4846A (Current)10/03/2012

A landing gear system comprises the most compelling assembly of engineering skills. Its importance to the successful design of an aircraft can be favorably compared with that of the aircraft's wings and engines. A landing gear system consists of several different engineering disciplines, and is continually in the public eye especially with regard to safety. The primary objective of AIR4846 is to present a record of a variety of interesting gears, gear/aircraft systems and patents, and to discuss wherever possible the lessons learned, and the reasons for the design. Thus, the document is not only a historical account, but a means of recording technical knowledge for the practical benefit of future landing gear designers. Commendable efforts have been made over the years by several individuals to make such recordings, and AIR4846 will make continual reference to them. This applies to all books, papers, or specifications that have the approval of the SAE A-5 Committee. AIR4846 also

A-5B Gears, Struts and Couplings Committee

Helicopter External Noise Estimation

AIR1989B (Current)08/16/2012

This method estimates noise for both single and tandem main rotor helicopters except for approach where it applies to single rotor designs only. It does not apply to coaxial rotor designs. Due to lack of available data, application of the method has not been evaluated for application to tiltrotor, or other VTOL configurations, when operating in the helicopter mode. Since there are substantial differences between helicopter rotors included in the data base, and tiltrotor rotors, application to VTOL configurations other than helicopters is not advised. Application is limited to helicopters powered by turboshaft engines and does not apply to helicopters powered by reciprocating engine, tip jets or other types of power plants. It provides noise information using basic operating and geometric information available in the open literature. To keep the method simple, it generates A-weighted sound levels, and Sound Exposure Levels precluding the necessity for spectral details. The method

A-21 Aircraft Noise Measurement Aviation Emission Modeling

Passive Attitude Control for Discoid Aerial Vehicles

2011-01-278710/18/2011

This paper presents and investigates different passive methods for reducing the notorious instability of discoid aerial vehicles. Presented methods are completely passive and involve elementary causes such as aerodynamic forces and gravitational effects. Four different system attitude control methods are presenting for different shapes and constructive solutions…

Dumas, Antonio, Trancossi, Michele

Airship Autopilot Design

2011-01-273610/18/2011

In this paper a control system design for robotic airship is developed. The nonlinear multilinked mathematic model of airship is considered. The results of aerodynamic analysis, parametric and structure disturbances estimation, nonlinear control algorithms are presented. Airship motion simulator is developed and successfully applied. Airship is implemented on experimental robotic mini-airship.

Pshikhopov, Viacheslav, Medvedev, Mikhail, Kostjukov, Vladimir, Fedorenko, Roman, Gurenko, Boris, Krukhmalev, Victor

Multibody Advanced Airship for Transport

2011-01-278610/18/2011

The MAAT project (Multibody Advanced Airship for Transport) aims to investigate aerial transportation possibility by airship based cruiser-feeder system. MAAT is composed by two modules: The cruiser, named PTAH, (acronym of Photovoltaic Transport Aerial High altitude system); the feeder, named ATEN (Aerial Transport Elevator Network feeder), is a VTOL system (Vertical Take Off and Landing) which ensure the connection between the cruiser and the ground. They can lift up and down by the control of buoyancy force and displace horizontally to join to cruiser. The project aims to: 1 identify and design the most functional cruiser/feeder airship architecture based on a discoid innovative airship able to remain airborne for long periods and to travel great distances; 2 design the best type of propulsion both for cruiser and feeder so they can contribute together to the propulsion of an innovative modular airship; 3 minimize the environmental air transport impacts by annulling the fossil fuels

Dumas, Antonio, Trancossi, Michele, Madonia, Mauro, Giuliani, Ilaria

Aerodynamic Comparison of Tilt-Rotor, -Wing and -Body Concept for Multi Task MAVs

2008-01-227508/19/2008

Multi task Micro Air Vehicles (MAVs) have been interested in last few years. VTOL and hovering capacities are required in case of flying in very confined zone and to enter into the building. In this paper, the VTOL concepts including tilt-wing, tilt-body, and tilt rotor had been studied. Analytical study and wind tunnel test have been done to compare different configurations by using the same power system. Since MAVs have been limited by size, the result concludes that tilt-body concept seems to be most appropriate for MAV application.

Thipyopas, Chinnapat

30 Years of Aerospace Technology

TBMG-90110/01/2006

In celebration of the 30th Anniversary of NASA Tech Briefs, our features in 2006 highlight a different technology category each month, tracing the past 30 years of the technology, and continuing with a glimpse into the future of where the technology is headed. Along the way, we include insights from industry leaders on the past, present, and future of each technology. This month, we take a look at the past 30 years of Aerospace Technology.

Extraordinary and Special Purpose Landing Gear Systems

AIR4846 (Historical)05/19/2006

A-5B Gears, Struts and Couplings Committee

Some Non-linear Aerodynamics Relevant to Flapping-wing MAVs

2005-01-319910/03/2005

The motivation for investigating micro air vehicles (MAVs) is given, and the advantages of insect-like flapping-wing MAVs (FMAVs) over other possible solutions are shown to be manifold. The complex kinematics of an insect-like flapping wing, and the highly unsteady flow produced by this motion, are examined. The inability of conventional, steady, aerodynamics to explain the large forces produced by such mechanisms is shown. A review is made of some early techniques in unsteady aerodynamics, followed by an examination of some more recent attempts to analyse the problem. Finally, the scope of the current research is explained, and a research plan is outlined.

Wilkins, P. C., Knowles, K., Zbikowski, R.W.

Continued Computational Investigation into Circulation Control for the V-22 Osprey Download Reduction

2005-01-318710/03/2005

The commercially available RNG k-e turbulence model with enhanced wall treatment found in Fluent 6.1 was used to solve the flow over a V-22 Osprey wing equipped with blowing slots. The solutions were then compared to experimental data. Good correlation between the computational and experimental data was found. Download on the wing from the rotors while the aircraft is operating in vertical take-off and landing mode was found to be reduced by the blowing slots.

O’Hara, Brian M., Angle, Gerald M., Huebsch, Wade W., Smith, James E.

Simultaneous Non Interfering (SNI) Operations, FAA Research, Development, and Implementation Efforts

2005-01-316910/03/2005

Rotorcraft perform missions that include Aeromedical transport, search and rescue, law enforcement, and vitally important disaster relief missions, which are needed for this nation's safety and security. Unfortunately, the nation's airspace is becoming increasingly crowded and the Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) system is not readily able to cope with increases of IFR rotorcraft and future tilt rotor aircraft operations, which limits these crucial rotorcraft operations to times when the weather is good or exposes aircrews to additional risk when weather is poor. Simultaneous Non Interfering (SNI) operations will increase airspace capacity and enhance safety by exploiting new navigation technology as well as the capabilities of Vertical Flight (VF) aircraft. SNI will achieve increased capacity by using innovative VF airway routes, new VF terminal instrument procedures, and reduced required separation standards in selected terminal areas. In order for SNI to become a reality, methods for

Hilbert, Michael

Aerospace Engineering 2005-04-01

AEROAPR0504/01/2005

STOVL propulsion-onward and upward Rolls-Royce's unique Pegasus engine has made possible a generation of vertical-landing military aircraft. Testing solutions This special section highlights some of the latest equipment used by engineers to validate new technologies.

Wiring UAVs

AERONOV04_0111/01/2004

The development of electronic architectures for UAVs and UCAVs marks a major step-change in the evolution of military aircraft as significant as the emergence of jet propulsion more than 60 years ago. The potential for change in everything from strategic and tactical applications to manufacturing processes for UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) and UCAVs (unmanned combat aerial vehicles) is only now starting to be understood and accepted. Central to the success of UAVs are reliable, robust, and cost-effective electronic systems. With advances in electronic and computer technology in the 1970s and 1980s and the efficacy of miniaturization, practical and effective UAVs started to shift from the realms of science fiction to the real world. Not surprisingly, early UAV electronic system architectures replicated the “federated” philosophy used in manned military aircraft, comprising several application-specific units including air data, flight control, guidance, and navigation computers. These

Birch, Stuart

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