An All-Electrically-Actuated "Fan-in-Fin" Tail Rotor for the AH-IW

An alternate tail rotor for the AH-IW will yield an attack helicopter which is more maneuverable, quieter, and less susceptible to battle damage. All of the evaluation criteria cited in the Solicitation point toward using a fan-in-fin tail rotor and developing approaches to eliminate the tail rotor drive train and hydraulic pitch actuation mechanism, Currently, a complex mechanical system delivers power to the tail rotor. In combat, it is a source of battle damage since the tail rotor is a single-point-failure item. Hydraulic variable pitch mechanisms are also a hazard since hydraulic-fluid leaks can ignite on hot engine surfaces, SatCon Technology Corporation proposes to investigate an all-electrically- actuated fan-in-fin tail rotor for the AH-IW. This will extend the fan-in-fin tail rotor concept by adding direct electric drive of the tail rotor via an electric motor and electrical actuation of the pitch mechanism via a magnetostrictive linear actuator, Electric drive eliminates the drive train while electric pitch actuation banishes hydraulics from the tail section. Phase I will evaluate the benefits of the approach via a feasibility/ design study. Phase II will develop a conceptual tail rotor system design based on the configuration defined in Phase I.