The development of a lightweight and redundent distributed aerospace transmission

分布式推进系统通过允许完全不同的飞机架构为航空航天领域提供了巨大的好处。这反过来又允许显著提高燃油效率的设计、减少排放、降低成本、改进车辆控制并实现VTOL设计。所提出的架构基于新颖的专利数字排量泵技术，提供了从单个动力源有效和准确地控制多个转子的能力，而不需要多个连接的驱动轴或显着更重的电动机和控制器。Flowcopter已经在第一架垂直起落演示机上证明了所提出的系统的可行性。在这次演示中，一架400公斤的无人机在系留飞行中以高达95公斤的有效载荷进行操作。传动的控制带宽和效率得到了验证。数字位移传动相对于电动传动的优势在于重量更轻，部件更坚固，所有这些都具有同等的效率。这些电机用于岩石破碎机和盐雾喷洒器，使其非常适合恶劣的海洋环境。作为该计划的一部分，Flowcopter和伦敦的玛丽皇后大学将进一步推进这种有前途的分布式传输技术。这项工作的重点将是：** 重量减轻 **，当前的变速箱组件专为在移动的液压市场中使用而设计，虽然与同等电动系统相比它们已经更轻，通过使用先进材料，还有很大的潜力进一步减轻重量。多重冗余 ** 类似于航空发动机中现有的发动机控制系统，将开发一种固有的双重冗余控制系统，为以后的认证铺平道路。混合动力驱动系统 ** 将开发并演示并联电动混合动力驱动系统。该系统将能够在主发动机故障的情况下提供短时间的动力，允许受控的紧急降落。这是第一个系统尺寸，旨在用于起飞重量<400 kg的重型无人机应用，并将在这样的情况下进行演示。这项技术的未来应用也可能是城市空中交通（UAM）市场和直升机尾桨。作为垂直起落姿态控制演示，其控制要求是分布式推进体系结构中最苛刻的。

Distributed propulsion systems offer huge benefits to the field of Aerospace by allowing radically different aircraft architectures. This in turn allows significantly more fuel efficient designs, reduced emissions, lower costs, improved vehicle control and enables VTOL designs.The proposed architecture is based on the novel patented Digital Displacement pump technology, offering the ability to efficiently and accurately control multiple rotors from a single power source without the need of multiple connected drive shafts or significantly heavier electric motors and controllers.Flowcopter has already demonstrated the feasibility of the proposed system in a first VTOL demonstrator. In this demonstration, a 400 kg UAV was operated with up to 95 kg payload in tethered flight. The control bandwidth and efficiency of the transmission was verified.The benefits Digital Displacement transmissions offer over electric alternatives are lighter weight, more robust components, all at an equivalent efficiency. The motors are used for rock crushers, and salt-spray spreaders making them very suitable for harsh maritime environments.As part of this program, Flowcopter and Queen Mary University of London will further advance this promising distributed transmission technology.The focus of this work will be:**Weight reduction**, the current transmission components have been designed for use in the mobile hydraulic market and while they are already lighter, compared to equivalent electric systems, there is a large potential for further weight reductions through the use of advanced materials.**Multiple redundancy** similar to existing engine control systems in aerospace engines an inherent dual redundant control system will be developed to pave the way for later certification.**Hybrid drive system** a parallel electric hybrid drive will be developed and demonstrated. This system will be able to provide power for short periods of time in case of primary engine failure, allowing for a controlled emergency landing.This first system size is intended for heavy-lift drone applications with a take-off weight <400kg and will be demonstrated in such. Future applications of this technology could also be the Urban Air Mobility (UAM) market and helicopter tail rotors. As a VTOL attitude controlled demonstration its control requirements are the most demanding of distributed propulsion architectures.