Proposal Number:          21-1- A1.01-3216

          

          

   

Subtopic Title:
      Aerodynamic and Structural Efficiency - Integration of Flight Control with Aircraft Multidisciplinary Design Optimization

          

          

   

Proposal Title:
      Incorporating control design for distributed electric propulsion in MDO

          

          

   

Firm:

          

Intelligent Automation, Inc.

          

   

Address:

          

15400 Calhoun Drive, Suite 190, Rockville, MD 20855

          

   

Phone:

          

(301) 294-5221                                                                                                                                                                                

          

   

Name:

          

Nikhil Nigam

          

   

E-mail:

          

nnigam@i-a-i.com

          

   

Address:

          

15400 Calhoun Drive, Suite 190, MD 20855 - 2814

          

   

Phone:

          

(301) 294-4255                                                                                                                                                                                

          

   

Name:

          

Mark James

          

   

E-mail:

          

mjames@i-a-i.com

          

   

Address:

          

15400 Calhoun Drive, Suite 190, MD 20855 - 2814

          

   

Phone:

          

(301) 294-5221                                                                                                                                                                                

          

   

Estimated Technology Readiness Level (TRL) :                                                                                                                                                          
Begin: 2
End: 3

          

          

     

Technical Abstract (Limit 2000 characters, approximately 200 words):

NASA is spearheading the efforts on Urban Air Mobility (UAM) and providing impetus to the industry to follow with concepts for the same. Several manufacturers, as well as, NASA, have come up with concepts for UAM aircraft; mostly using Distributed Electric Propulsion (DEP). However, the multidisciplinary interactions involved and the ability to utilize the distributed propulsors for improved control are not fully understood. In particular there is a need to incorporate control surface and controller design in the design framework and account for aeroservoelastic interactions. To achieve this, we are developing the ADEPt, a design optimization architecture that includes multidisciplinary analyses for integrated airframe-DEP design. This technology, if successful, can push the state of the art in UAM aircraft concept design and DEP enabled aircraft in general.

          

          

     

Potential NASA Applications (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words):

The AAM project at NASA (and UTM as well) will directly benefit from this research, in terms of availing the true benefits of DEP-enabled aircraft. The design tool will help understand and leverage the multidisciplinary interactions involved and will directly benefit programs such as AAVP, AATT, TTT and RVLT, which are looking for advanced aircraft designs, particularly electrified distributed propulsion concepts.

          

          

     

Potential Non-NASA Applications (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words):

Several aircraft manufacturers have responded to the UAM Grand Challenge and are actively pursuing designs for DEP aircraft for UAM. Hence, both commercial and civil contractors will benefit from ADEPt that can help them refine their designs or come up with new ones. We have also secured the support of Lockheed Martin, who is highly interested in this technology

          

          

     

Duration:     6