As the long anticipated first manned flight of the X-57 Maxwell Project approaches, we reflect on the design approaches and highlight the challenges and lessons learned from developing and implementing distributed electric propulsion.
Session Category: AIAA AVIATION Forum 2023
Forum 360: Advanced Air Mobility Autonomy Certification
All advanced air mobility (AAM) transformational missions need certifiable automation to lower operating costs to reduce pilot training or remove the pilot from the aircraft. Some of the industry is proposing a crawl, walk, run with regulatory agencies from slowly removing pilot functions that are verifiable in software before they remove the pilot from the cockpit. This panel will discuss challenges to prove software can make multiple decisions in a contingency better than a pilot.
Also, watch the 10 May 2023 AIAA AAM Task Force meeting with the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), hosted by the Vertical Flight Society. Watch Video
EATS: Social
FlightLab: Comeback of Riblet Surfaces in Aviation – Hype or Hope?
Riblets are well know in Aviation as there have been many research in the last century (see AIAA Papers). However there was never a real usage or business case. In recent years more and more research was done (see AIAA Scitech Papers) with different players. Now also Industry is jumping in and investing many recourses in that topic. However, it seems there are many question marks behind the economical benefit of Riblets. The discussion should be about if it is just another Hype or if Riblets “stay” in Aviation this time.
IPLC: Looking Back to the Future: V/STOL Evolution and Its Current Revolution
VSTOL-01
This presentation will review the major successes and failures in the field of V/STOL aviation, and compiles specific lessons learned that have endured the test of time. In addition, the past will be tied to the future by looking at the evolution of V/STOL aircraft and how current advances have pushed the V/STOL engineering discipline to the forefront of aeronautical innovation and entrepreneurship in the US and around the world. Host: Geoffrey Jeram, U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Command Speaker: Erasmo Piñero – Airborne Tactical Advantage Compay (ATAC)
IPLC: Enabling Electric V/STOL Technologies
VSTOL-02/ EATS-05
Forum 360: Current and Future State of Aircraft Certification
The current aircraft certification standards and processes are adequate for certifying our current understanding of aircraft – airplanes are airplanes, helicopters are helicopters and so on. Future aircraft will blur the lines – airplanes the take off like helicopters, helicopters will cruise like airplanes, uncrewed systems, automated/autonomous systems will test the limits of the current understanding of certification standards and processes.
Further, the latest technological advancements in aircraft design and manufacturing, including composite materials, additive manufacturing, and electric propulsion systems present challenges for regulators and manufacturers.
The panel will look towards the future of aircraft certification and explore emerging trends and technologies, such as supersonic and hypersonic flight, urban air mobility, and autonomous aircraft. They will discuss the unique challenges these new technologies present for certification and the regulatory approaches needed to ensure their safe operation.
IPLC: V/STOL Design and Aerodynamics
VSTOL-04/TF-13
Forum 360: Hydrogen: Fuel of the Future
The industry commitment to net zero 2050 comes with many challenges, not least of which is finding fuels that provide energy density comparable to current aviation fuels. Hydrogen has many of the characteristics required but comes with another set of challenges and benefits. Leading industry advocates will address the challenges and their vision of hydrogen as a fuel for the next generation of aviation.
Introductory Presentation
- Technological Innovations Driving a Hydrogen-Electric Aviation Future
Driven by global growth in demand for high-speed mobility, as well as a need to ensure profitability and sustainability of aviation into the future, a strategic transition towards alternative propulsion and energy sources is necessary. The use of liquid hydrogen (LH2) as an energy carrier serves as a promising avenue to zero-emissions commercial air travel of the future. However, for fully hydrogen-electric concepts to be feasible, significant progress in cryogenic and superconducting systems and distributed electric propulsion technologies must be developed. The Center for Cryogenic High-Efficiency Electrical Technologies for Aircraft (CHEETA), established under the NASA University Leadership Initiative program, was developed to address these technological gaps. This presentation will provide an overview of the research activities supported through CHEETA, including several challenges, opportunities, and impact areas associated with next-generation cryogenic electrified aircraft propulsion technologies.