SBIR/STTR Award attributes
Since World War 2, normal aircraft braking is achieved through a system of hydraulically activated carbon brakes located on the main wheels of the aircraft. These friction based systems offer limited performance and reduced braking capabilities due to brake fade, overheating, thermal loading issues, and generally higher operational, maintenance, repair and overhaul costs over the life cycle of the braking system. Our company, Inductive Ventures (IV) has successfully demonstrated a new electromagnetic based system built on low cost of ownership, high-torque to low-weight performance, high reliability, and higher level of safety control of braking forces would better serve the aerospace industry and offer significant advantages over carbon brakes, including: 1. Recapture some of the available kinetic energy during the landing event to increase the overall efficiency of the aircraft. 2. Transfer this available kinetic energy from the landing wheels through a motor generator to an energy storage device on board the aircraft. 3. Use this stored energy during ground taxiing operations as a means to eliminate taxi fuel burn while the aircraft is on the ground. 4. Reduce the number of hours spent on maintenance of the conventional braking system. 5. Reduce the time on engines and engine thrust cycling due to taxiing and waiting in queue. 6. Improve operations and on time departure by eliminating the need for tugs, tow bars and other ground taxi equipment. 7. Provide the added capability of take-off assist to the aircraft allowing the aircraft the ability to use shorter runways. This novel technology has the potential to save the government hundreds of millions of dollars by replacing parts that are designed to wear out. In addition, this technology offers the airframe shorter take-off/landing runways, take-off assist, energy regeneration and electric-taxi (fuel savings). This technology is scalable so that it can fit on any size airframe from the largest military frames (C-17) to commercial airframes and even personal aircraft.
