Electrified Rotor Head for Advanced Vertical Flight

The proposed program seeks to develop an electrified smart rotor head to enable unique VTOL aircraft configurations by significantly reducing the mechanical complexity of existing variable blade pitch rotor heads seen on traditional VTOL aircraft such as helicopters and tilt?rotors. The proposed end?use will integrate high reliability non?contact power and data couplings and in?hub electric servos to actuate the rotor blades of a VTOL lift rotor. The initial target market for this application will be lift rotors for UAS systems with MGTOW ranging from 800?1,300lbs (upper Group 3). In Phase I of the project, ESAero will partner with Cal Poly to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study and conceptual design effort. This effort will incorporate the build and verification of prototype rotor mechanisms to verify design spirals for early risk identification. ESAero and Cal Poly will jointly explore the design space utilizing collective design and analysis capabilities including aerodynamic CFD analysis, and static and dynamic structural FEA analysis. ESAero will lead and execute the manufacturing efforts for prototype mechanisms. Cal Poly will support the testing and verification of the mechanisms utilizing the wind tunnel and structures testing facilities as required. Phase I will culminate in a planning effort to mitigate any risks identified in the design effort. The end of Phase I will also identify an ideal transition end?user for Phase II. In Phase II, the team will work closely with the transition partner to transition the technology through full feature implementation including optimized individual blade control, full scale design verification, and an initial operational trial on a Group 3 UAS.