eQ Propulsor for Drone Applications

In this Phase II STTR, Whisper Aero is proposing novel ultra-quiet high-performance propulsors that can be applied to Group I, II, and III UAS and consumer drones. In Phase I, Whisper Aero successfully designed, built, and tested an initial design using a comprehensive suite of low-Reynolds number aerodynamic design tools, aero-structural static & modal analyses, rapid manufacturing techniques, and static performance/acoustic testing. The results demonstrate that Whisper Aero’s technology will enable the Air Force to establish new mission capabilities through dramatically reduced acoustic signatures while maintaining robust, high performance propulsor designs. In Phase II, Whisper Aero will build a flight weight eQ Propulsor, conduct static acoustic tests, perform wind tunnel on-and-off design condition tests in cooperation with our Research Institution partner, Georgia Tech, and evaluate customer relevant technology layers for proof of concept testing. This design and test effort begins with a survey of important customer requirements to tailor development of the most relevant DoD propulsor, both for cruise efficient ISR and VTOL applications. By the end of Phase II, a COTS EDF propelled glider will be flown to prove out Whisper’s acoustic and flight test data collection procedures. This proven capability will fast track a follow-on Phase III flight test of an eQ Propulsor integrated on a UAV platform to operationally validate that a Class II drone stand-off detectability distance can be reduced from 2,000 ft on a ScanEagle to less than 200 ft on a Whisper platform.