{"project":{"acronym":"","projectId":93453,"title":"Distributed Electric Propulsion Aircraft Comprehensive Analysis and Design Tool","primaryTaxonomyNodes":[{"taxonomyNodeId":10952,"taxonomyRootId":8816,"parentNodeId":10946,"level":3,"code":"TX15.1.6","title":"Advanced Atmospheric Flight Vehicles","definition":"This area covers unconventional vehicle concept designs enabled by advancements in understanding of flow and fluid phenomena.","exampleTechnologies":"Concept flow-related technologies supporting development of subsonic transports, supersonic transports, hybrid electric concepts, advanced spacecraft, launch vehicle and abort vehicles, planetary EDL and ascent vehicles, and urban air vehicles","hasChildren":false,"hasInteriorContent":true}],"startTrl":3,"currentTrl":4,"endTrl":4,"benefits":"The DEP aircraft comprehensive analysis and flight simulation software proposed to be developed would enable accurate prediction and optimization of aerodynamic and aeroelastic performance, loads, flight dynamics and acoustics of DEP aircraft in computation times required for daily design work. The proposed approach would address many of the key technical objectives cited in the solicitation of \"innovative approaches in designing and analyzing the DEP aircraft\", directly supporting NASA's ARMD Strategic Thrust #3 (Ultra-Efficient Commercial Vehicles) and #4 (Transition to Low-Carbon Propulsion) in the Technology Roadmap to achieve Low Carbon Emissions through use of alternative propulsion systems such as electric/hybrid propulsion. The developed analysis, flight simulation and acoustic prediction tool would be of immediate use to NASA engineers evaluating and investigating advantageous DEP configurations to develop and pursue, such as the current NASA SCEPTOR configuration under study. The modular approach would allow the new technology to be implemented within NASA's MDAO software - a flexible optimization environment being developed by NASA to support advanced optimization methods. As such, the new technology could leverage the MDAO framework to provide NASA an efficient means to quickly determine optimum DEP (and other V/STOL) aircraft designs, a great benefit given the broad possibilities afforded by multiple distributed propulsors.
The DEP aircraft comprehensive analysis and flight simulation software proposed to be developed by CDI would also be of great benefit to industry and the DoD. NASA and CDI are collaborating with industry partners who are already developing future DEP aircraft concepts and who will participate in determining which additional analysis capabilities would be of greatest benefit to them in this endeavor. CDI already licenses analysis and design software throughout the V/STOL aircraft manufacturing community and our clients are eager to see enhancements required for modeling DEP aircraft developed and implemented. Because of this close collaboration, CDI anticipates swift commercialization and utilization of the new developed software by industry. CDI also has a long history of participating in industry teams performing large scale Future Vehicle Lift (FVL) aircraft development programs for the military, (e.g. DARPA MAR, TERN and GREMLINS; DoD JMR). The software developed in the proposed effort would advance the analysis capabilities required for these and future FVL aircraft programs and thus find immediate use in these applications as well, not only by CDI providing engineering services, but also by aircraft manufacturers who license our software and DoD agencies who evaluate FVL concepts proposed by industry. Thus the new technology will find a relevant home in the entire arena of V/STOL aircraft development.","description":"The solicitation seeks innovative approaches in designing and analyzing Distributed Electric Propulsion (DEP) aircraft to support ARMD's Strategic Thrust #3 (Ultra-Efficient Commercial Vehicles) and #4 (Transition to Low-Carbon Propulsion). This proposal seeks to address this need by developing DEP aircraft analysis tools able to accurately predict and optimize aerodynamic and aeroelastic performance, loads, flight dynamics and acoustics of DEP aircraft in computational times commensurate with daily design work. The proposed approach is to leverage and enhance existing V/STOL aircraft analysis and flight simulation software with new capabilities that address current gaps in technology identified by NASA in this solicitation and developers of DEP aircraft. The new comprehensive DEP aircraft analysis will be built in a modular fashion, coupling flight simulation, aeromechanics and acoustics components into a single tool but with an eye toward implementing each transportable software library within alternate analyses and optimization tools, such as NASA's Multidisciplinary Design, Analysis and Optimization (MDAO) platform. In Phase I, a prototype DEP aircraft comprehensive analysis will be created and validated for accurate, fast prediction of DEP-related aeromechanics phenomena. A modular form of the new analysis will be coupled with a flight simulation enhanced to support additional control options available to DEP aircraft like variable RPM and thrust vectoring. Automated coupling with an acoustic prediction code will provide DEP aircraft acoustic characteristics for both steady and maneuvering flight. A model of NASA's SCEPTOR X-Plane will be constructed and demonstration calculations performed predicting flight dynamics, acoustics, aerodynamics and aeroelasticity. Phase II will see the implementation of further enhancements and completion of commercial software ready for use by government and industry.","startYear":2017,"startMonth":6,"endYear":2018,"endMonth":6,"statusDescription":"Completed","principalInvestigators":[{"contactId":99639,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Daniel","lastName":"Wachspress","fullName":"Daniel A Wachspress","fullNameInverted":"Wachspress, Daniel A","middleInitial":"A","primaryEmail":"Dan@Continuum-Dynamics.Com","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false},{"contactId":2343950,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Daniel","lastName":"Wachspress","fullName":"Daniel Wachspress","fullNameInverted":"Wachspress, Daniel","primaryEmail":"dan@continuum-dynamics.com","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"programDirectors":[{"contactId":206378,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Jason","lastName":"Kessler","fullName":"Jason L Kessler","fullNameInverted":"Kessler, Jason L","middleInitial":"L","primaryEmail":"jason.l.kessler@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"programExecutives":[{"contactId":215154,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Jennifer","lastName":"Gustetic","fullName":"Jennifer L Gustetic","fullNameInverted":"Gustetic, Jennifer L","middleInitial":"L","primaryEmail":"jennifer.l.gustetic@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"programManagers":[{"contactId":62051,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Carlos","lastName":"Torrez","fullName":"Carlos Torrez","fullNameInverted":"Torrez, Carlos","primaryEmail":"carlos.torrez@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"projectManagers":[{"contactId":3164406,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Nhan","lastName":"Nguyen","fullName":"Nhan Nguyen","fullNameInverted":"Nguyen, Nhan","primaryEmail":"Nhan.T.Nguyen@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false},{"contactId":461333,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Theresa","lastName":"Stanley","fullName":"Theresa M 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The software would be used by NASA to investigate DEP aircraft (like SCEPTOR) and Urban Air Mobility concepts. The modular approach would allow implementation within NASA’s OpenMDAO optimization environment, a great benefit given the broad possibilities afforded by multiple distributed props.
NASA and CDI are collaborating with aircraft manufacturers eager to see the new analysis capabilities required for modeling DEP aircraft developed and implemented for their use. The new software will improve analysis capabilities for not only DEP aircraft but for all Future Vertical Lift aircraft, supporting major military and urban air mobility airframe development programs.","description":"A key goal of the current NASA ARMD Strategic Plan is to achieve Low Carbon Emissions through use of alternative propulsion systems such as electric/hybrid propulsion. In this regard, NASA’s STTR solicitation seeks innovative approaches in designing and analyzing Distributed Electric Propulsion (DEP) aircraft to support ARMD’s Strategic Thrust #3 (Ultra-Efficient Commercial Vehicles) and #4 (Transition to Low-Carbon Propulsion). Continuum Dynamics, Inc. (CDI) and The Pennsylvania State University (PSU) propose an STTR research effort that would address this need by developing DEP aircraft analysis tools able to accurately predict aerodynamic and aeroelastic performance, loads, stability, flight dynamics and acoustics in computational times commensurate with daily design work. The proposed approach would leverage and enhance existing V/STOL aircraft analysis and flight simulation software with new capabilities that address current gaps in technology identified by NASA and developers of DEP aircraft who are working with CDI in the analysis and design of future air taxi concepts. The new comprehensive DEP aircraft analysis will be built in a modular fashion, coupling flight simulation, aeromechanics, aeroelastic, acoustic, and power system components into both a stand-alone analysis and transportable software libraries easily coupled into alternate analyses and optimization tools. In Phase II, this coupling will be performed with NASA’s NDARC aircraft design code, OpenVSP aircraft model generation tool and Open Multidisciplinary Design, Analysis and Optimization (OpenMDAO) platform.","startYear":2018,"startMonth":9,"endYear":2021,"endMonth":3,"statusDescription":"Completed","website":"","program":{"acronym":"SBIR/STTR","active":true,"description":"
The NASA SBIR and STTR programs fund the research, development, and demonstration of innovative technologies that fulfill NASA needs as described in the annual Solicitations and have significant potential for successful commercialization. If you are a small business concern (SBC) with 500 or fewer employees or a non-profit RI such as a university or a research laboratory with ties to an SBC, then NASA encourages you to learn more about the SBIR and STTR programs as a potential source of seed funding for the development of your innovations.
The SBIR and STTR programs have 3 phases:
The SBIR and STTR Phase I contracts last for 6 months with a maximum funding of $125,000, and Phase II contracts last for 24 months with a maximum funding of $750,000 - $1.5 million.
Opportunity for Continued Technology Development Post-Phase II:
The NASA SBIR/STTR Program currently has in place two initiatives for supporting its small business partners past the basic Phase I and Phase II elements of the program that emphasize opportunities for commercialization. Specifically, the NASA SBIR/STTR Program has the Phase II Enhancement (Phase II-E) and Phase II eXpanded (Phase II-X) contract options.
Please review the links below to obtain more information on the SBIR/STTR programs.
Provides an overview of the SBIR and STTR programs as implemented by NASA
Provides access to the annual SBIR/STTR Solicitations containing detailed information on the program eligibility requirements, proposal instructions and research topics and subtopics
Schedule and links for the SBIR/STTR solicitations and selection announcements
Federal and non-Federal sources of assistance for small business
Search our complete archive of awarded project abstracts to learn about what NASA has funded
Still have questions? Visit the program FAQs
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The SBIR and STTR programs have 3 phases:
The SBIR and STTR Phase I contracts last for 6 months with a maximum funding of $125,000, and Phase II contracts last for 24 months with a maximum funding of $750,000 - $1.5 million.
Opportunity for Continued Technology Development Post-Phase II:
The NASA SBIR/STTR Program currently has in place two initiatives for supporting its small business partners past the basic Phase I and Phase II elements of the program that emphasize opportunities for commercialization. Specifically, the NASA SBIR/STTR Program has the Phase II Enhancement (Phase II-E) and Phase II eXpanded (Phase II-X) contract options.
Please review the links below to obtain more information on the SBIR/STTR programs.
Provides an overview of the SBIR and STTR programs as implemented by NASA
Provides access to the annual SBIR/STTR Solicitations containing detailed information on the program eligibility requirements, proposal instructions and research topics and subtopics
Schedule and links for the SBIR/STTR solicitations and selection announcements
Federal and non-Federal sources of assistance for small business
Search our complete archive of awarded project abstracts to learn about what NASA has funded
Still have questions? Visit the program FAQs
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