E-SAT Start
Overview and objectives
To achieve the ambitious goals of "Flightpath 2050", new mobility concepts are required to make aviation more efficient and ecological. One such concept is the direct connection of regional centers and rural regions by air, which offers the potential of significantly reduced travel times, but requires small aircraft that are significantly quieter, safer, more comfortable and less expensive than before. This is addressed within the project with the electrohybrid Silent Air Taxi (SAT), an extremely quiet small aircraft that can be produced at low cost and certified for commercial aviation.
Within the E-SATstart project, several core technological innovations of the Silent Air Taxi are developed. These include a very quiet ducted prop, which reduces fuel consumption by means of an electrohybrid engine, and the innovative fly-by-wire flight control system (FCS).
Role of the FSD
The Institute of Flight System Dynamics is responsible for the specifications, design and development of a fly-by-wire based flight control system for the Silent Air Taxi. An appropriate test environment is used to perform robustness studies and optimizations.
Furthermore, the FSD is working closely with Liebherr-Aerospace Lindenberg GmbH on the specification of the actuator technology as well as a modularity concept for the flight control system. For the subsequent preliminary design and evaluation of the electromechanical actuators, the FSD provides support.
Duration of the Project
01.11.2020 – 31.10.2022
Funding
Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie (BmWi) – Luftfahrtforschungsprogramm (LuFo VI-1)
Projectpartners
Liebherr-Aerospace Lindenberg GmbH
IMA Materialforschung und Anwendungstechnik GmbH
Fraunhofer-Institut für Produktionstechnik
Institut für Elektrische Maschinen der RWTH Aachen
Institut für Luft- und Raumfahrtsysteme der RWTH Aachen
Institut für Strahlantriebe und Turbomaschinen der RWTH Aachen