You are here

ELECTRIC PROPULSION SYSTEM

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
Contract: N/A
Agency Tracking Number: 17691
Amount: $48,176.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: N/A
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: N/A
Award Year: 1992
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): N/A
Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A
Small Business Information
12 Emily Street
Cambridge, MA 02139
United States
DUNS: N/A
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Vijay Gondhalekar
 (617) 661-0540
Business Contact
Phone: () -
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

HIGH FLYING DRONES PROPELLED BY FIXED SPEED FANS HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFULLY FLOWN BEFORE. THE FIXED SPEED IS DICTATED BY THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TURBINE PRIME DRIVER WHICH DELIVERS HIGHEST EFFICIENCY AT A PARTICULAR SPEED. THE FIXED SPEED CONSTRAINT COMPROMISES THE FAN PERFORMANCE CONSIDERABLY, EVEN WITH VARIABLE PITCH BLADES. AN APPROPRIATE ELECTRIC DRIVE CAN CONVERT THE FIXED SPEED POWER OUTPUT OF THE TURBINE TO A VARIABLE SPEED OUTPUT AT THE FAN. THE MOTOR ADDS MASS AND IMPOSES AN ADDITIONAL ENERGY LOSS IN THE "DRIVE TRAIN" BUT ALLOWS OPTIMAL DRIVE PERFORMANCE OVER THE ENTIRE ALTITUDE RANGE. THIS IN TURN LEADS TO LOWER FUEL REQUIREMENTS AND A LONGER FLIGHT RANGE AND/OR DURATION OF THE UAV. HOWEVER, A LIGHT-WEIGHT, EFFICIENT DRIVE MOTOR IS CRUCIAL FOR A SUCCESSFUL TRADEOFF BETWEEN ADDED MASS AND INCREASED EFFICIENCY. THIS PROPOSAL DESCRIBES TWO INNOVATIVE COMPACT MOTOR DESIGNS WHICH PROVIDE THESE CHARACTERISTICS. IN THE PHASE I PROGRAM, THE PROJECT TEAM, CONSISTING OF EXPERTS IN HIGH ALTITUDE FAN DRIVEN VEHICLES AND VARIABLE SPEED MOTOR DRIVES, WILL DESIGN A VARIABLE SPEED MOTOR WHICH, TOGETHER WITH A VARIABLE PITCH FAN, WILL DELIVER EFFICIENT THRUST POWER OVER THE WHOLE ALTITUDE RANGE. A PROTOTYPE WILL BE BUILT AND TESTED IN A PHASE II PROGRAM. ANTICIPATED BENEFITS/POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS - THIS RESEARCH WILL IMPROVE THE PERFORMANCE OF MILITARY UNMANNED AIR VEHICLES BY DEVELOPING A SCALABLE, COMPACT, AND QUIET ELECTRIC PROPULSION SYSTEM. POTENTIAL COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS INCLUDE IMPROVED ELECTRIC MOTORS AND CONVERTERS FOR COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY VEHICLES.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

US Flag An Official Website of the United States Government