SBIR/STTR Award attributes
A major innovative thrust is underway to develop Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL)/Urban Air Mobility aircraft. However, designing safe eVTOL aircraft is challenging. Notably, interactional aerodynamics (IA) has historically been a key flight safety issue for VTOL aircraft, and no existing aircraft approaches the complexity of IA associated with future eVTOL aircraft concepts. Continuum Dynamics, Inc., (CDI) is uniquely positioned to address this issue, by providing an accurate, real-time, piloted eVTOL aircraft flight simulation with high-fidelity interactional aerodynamics. This would allow flying eVTOL aircraft in general flight/wind conditions and failure modes within the safety of a computer simulation with realistic IA. Current piloted eVTOL aircraft flight simulations cannot model IA with the required fidelity because they lack real-time free wake technology. CDI is the only organization to have developed and implemented real-time free wakes in piloted NASA & DoD rotorcraft flight simulations and trainers. Teaming with Pennsylvania State University allows high-fidelity, near-real-time acoustic prediction to be included, supporting virtual certification of both safety and noise for new eVTOL aircraft concepts. Phase I work demonstrated feasibility of the proposed approach and presented a Phase II plan to DAF personnel and stakeholders eager to pull this technology forward.
