Investigation of the applicability of CO-flow to deflected slipstream vertical take-off and landing (vtol) aircraft. Many current urban air mobility (UAM) aircraft designs are focused on an…

Investigation of the applicability of CO-flow to deflected slipstream vertical take-off and landing (vtol) aircraft. Many current urban air mobility (UAM) aircraft designs are focused on an immediate need: to build relatively simple, certifiable, first-generation vtol UAM aircraft. These first-generation aircraft often employ configurations such as separate lift plus cruise propulsion systems, which increase mass and drag and reduce efficiency. Second-generation UAM aircraft need to reach far beyond these initial capabilities: they need efficient, low-noise, and low-maintenance solutions, with benign flight characteristics, which remain safe, reliable, and certifiable. In order to achieve successful characteristics in the design of these second-generation UAM aircraft, IT is necessary to consider the use of additional technologies. One such technology may be flow control. Flow control may improve efficiency, noise, reliability, and safety. CO-flow is a zero-net-mass-flux active flow control system which utilizes an embedded micro compressor in the wing to produce blowing close to the wing leading edge, and suction close to the wing trailing edge. An aircraft may achieve vtol by utilizing a propeller to blow a CO-flow equipped wing under static conditions. Of particular interest for this statement of work is the application of CO-flow to deflected slipstream vtol concepts. Deflected slipstream vtol concepts traditionally entail the deployment of wing flaps and slats to turn the slipstream of propulsors downward, such that the resultant force acting on the aircraft is vertically upwards. Once airborne, flaps are retracted for cruise. This technique may enable a rigid vtol aircraft concept in which wing and propulsor positions are fixed relative to the aircraft fuselage, without separate lift plus cruise propulsors. This could provide benefits in cruise efficiency, weight, noise, reliability, and maintainability, and offer safer transition characteristics. Recent technology advancements such as distributed electric propulsion and improved materials and control systems mean that deflected slipstream concepts may now be feasible. Therefore, this statement of work seeks to explore the applicability of CO-flow to deflected slipstream vtol.