DIRECT ELECTRIC TAIL ROTOR INTEGRATED DRIVE (DETRID) SYSTEMS FOR HELICOPTERS

SAT-CON TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION PROPOSES TO ASSIST THE U.S. ARMY IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A DIRECT ELECTRIC TAIL ROTOR INTEGRATED DRIVE (DETRID) SYSTEM FOR HELICOPTERS. THIS IS AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH FOR HELICOPTERS IN WHICH THE TAIL ROTOR BLADE ACTS AS THE ROTOR OF AN ELECTRIC MOTOR, PROVIDING THE NECESSARY ANTITORQUE REQUIREMENT. PHASE I WORK PERFORMED WILL INVOLVE A STUDY OF THE POWER DENSITY AND RESPONSIVENESS OF AT LEAST THREE DETRID SYSTEM CONFIGURATIONS TO DETERMINE THEIR RELATIVE FEASIBILITY, MERITS, AND PENALTIES IN ORDER TO OPTIMIZE PERFORMANCE. THE STRAWMAN CONFIGURATIONS WILL INCLUDE THAT SUGGESTED BY THE ARMY IN ITS SOLICITATION AS WELL AS SEVERAL OTHERS WHICH SAT-CON BELIEVES TO HAVE MERIT. CONTROLS AND SWITCHING LOGIC/CONTROL ELECTRONICS, WILL ALSO BE INVESTIGATED. PHASE II WOULD INVOLVE DETAILED DESIGN, FABRICATION, AND BENCH-TYPE TESTING FOR THE DETRID CONFIGURATION.