SBIR-STTR Award

Aerotonomy, Incorporated and the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI), will develop enabling technologies for an aircraft that is capable of Extreme Short Takeoff and Landing (ESTOL), while retaining efficient transonic cruise performance, by applying a comprehensive, systems-based design and analysis approach to innovative combinations of active flow control methodologies. The development of this technology directly supports the four strategic goals of NASA's Next Generation Air Transportation System (NGATS), namely 1) increased capacity, 2) improved safety and reliability, 3) increased efficiency and performance, and 4) reduced energy consumption and environmental impact. Individual circulation control technologies have been explored over the years, and have been demonstrated to provide highly effective force and moment augmentation and improved control capabilities. However, previous investigations generally did not focus on combining these CC systems into a cohesive and functional aircraft subsystem, nor did they examine CC impacts on other aircraft subsystems or overall integration issues. The primary innovation in the proposed project will be an optimal Combined Circulation Control (C3) system that maximizes net CC performance benefits over all flight phases, determined through a comprehensive set of systems-impact trades, including examinations of impacts on power requirements, propulsion system performance, noise characteristics, cost, reliability and aircraft weight.

Aerotonomy, Incorporated, the Georgia Tech Research Institute, and the Boeing Company propose here to continue work towards the development of commercially viable enabling technologies for a Cruise Efficient, ESTOL-capable Transport Aircraft (CEETA). Results of the Phase I effort provide a broad, systems-based assessment of several innovative Combined Circulation Control (C3) techniques that represent a significant potential solution in the space of high lift technologies. Highlights of the proposed Phase II program will be:1)Significant enhancement of the overall systems-based C3 impacts analysis by refining the weight, compressed air requirements, propulsion system, flight performance, environmental, cost, and reliability impacts analyses as well as conducting a meaningful examination of Figure of Merit weighting schemes.2)Low speed wind tunnel tests of a 3D half-span, subscale CEETA with integrated C3 systems to generate detailed 3D aerodynamic data that include interaction effects among the various circulation control devices.3)Execution of an experimental flight program using a subscale, mass-scaled CEETA testbed that enables direct performance comparisons between an aircraft equipped with C3-based high lift devices and an aircraft equipped with conventional high lift devices at the same wing loading, as well as evaluations of real-world issues associated with integrating C3 devices into a flight-ready vehicle.