Maturation of a Scalable Low-Noise Propeller Family for eVTOL Applications

The team of Techsburg (prime), AVEC (subcontractor), and Virginia Tech (research institute) will team to develop and mature a low-noise propeller design that is suitable for near-term commercial use across a range of sizes and thrust classes useful to eVTOL aircraft for vertical and forward flight. With over a decade of low-noise design experience, Techsburg and AVEC will utilize existing aeroacoustic design tools (both in-house and state-of-the-art commercial software) along with optimal combination of best design practices with sufficient technical maturity to enable a near-term commercial product to support the eVTOL aircraft industry. Through contacts with industry OEMs on past flight test projects, a Phase II manufacturing partner has been identified, and this proposal addresses both vehicle acoustics and advanced aircraft component manufacturing and innovation in US small business manufacturing (addresses EO 13329). Techsburg will partner with research institute Virginia Tech, and leverage expertise within the VT Aerospace and Ocean Engineering Department for advanced aeroacoustic testing and understanding of noise generation mechanisms related to propellers generating static thrust (ie, hovering rotors). Outdoor isolated rotor testing during Phase I will be followed up by anechoic wind tunnel testing during Phase II to demonstrate performance, decrease risk, and aid evaluation of overall feasibility of the low-noise propeller design. A successful program would bolster the eVTOL/UAM industry by offering high performance propulsion system options as off-the-shelf products, wholly designed, developed and manufactured in the United States.