LIGHTWEIGHT STARTER/ALTERNATOR FOR SMALL ENGINES

UNIQUE MOBILITY HAS INVENTED A NOVELMEANS OF CONSTRUCTING A BRUSHLESS DC MOTOR WHICH OPERATES WITH EFFICIENCY AND POWER RATINGS ABOVE OTHER MOTORS AVAILABLE COMMERCIALLY. THE ASSOCIATED UNIQ MOTOR AND CONTROL SYSTEM TECHNOLOGIES APPEAR TO BE IDEAL CANDIDATE FOR AN RPV ENGINE STARTER/ALTERNATOR THAT IS BOTH SMALL AND LIGHTWEIGHT. IN THE PROPOSED PHASE I STUDY, A 3 KW ALTERNATOR AT 28 VOLTS DC OPERATING AT 4000 RPM IS DESIGNED UTILIZING COMPUTERIZED OPTIMIZATION METHODS. PRELIMINARY DESIGN RESULTS INDICATE THAT THE ALTERNATOR WOULD WEIGHT 6.3 LBS. AND THE CONTROLLER BETWEEN 4-5 LBS. THE UTILITY OF THIS DEVICE FOR SEVERAL CLASSES OV UAVS AND FOR OTHER REMOTELY OPERATED SYSTEMS IS EXPLORED. IF PROVEN FEASIBLE, THIS STARTER/ALTERNATOR COULD ENHANCE PROPULSION SYSTEM DESIGN FOR A VARIETY OF MANNED AND UNMANNED VEHICLES.