"" on-demand mobility studies: investigating vehicle platforms able to carry small packages to 9 passengers, with investigations of their enabling component technologies on-demand mobility (ODM) is an…

This is a federal contract award from the Langley Research Center, a civilian NASA research center, to the National Institute of Aerospace Associates (NIA), a non-profit research organization. The contract, valued at $652,183.00, is focused on conducting on-demand mobility (ODM) studies to investigate vehicle platforms capable of transporting small packages or up to 9 passengers at high speeds, while also exploring enabling technologies like electric propulsion and autonomous operations.

The contract includes eight subtasks related to ODM, such as developing a concept of operations for a small unmanned aerial system package delivery scenario, analyzing the feasibility of a thin-haul mission, and investigating innovative manufacturing techniques for composites and additive manufacturing. NIA has subcontracted portions of the work to organizations like Georgia Tech Research Corporation, Combustion Research & Flow Technology Inc., and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. This contract does not have a set-aside designation.

"" on-demand mobility studies: investigating vehicle platforms able to carry small packages to 9 passengers, with investigations of their enabling component technologies on-demand mobility (ODM) is an envisioned new transportation choice that achieves greater productivity through high speed travel for both passengers and goods wherever and whenever users desire. ODM combines the immediate and flexible travel access of automobiles with aviation's speed and ability to travel in a distributed fashion, independent of ground terrain and route infrastructure pathways. Two key technologies for enabling ODM are electric propulsion and simplified vehicle operations (which includes autonomy technologies). If these technologies are advanced and truly on-demand systems can be developed, there would be major improvements to the U.S. Economy. The tasks in this statement of work are focused on individual technologies that may help enable ODM in addition to general studies into the feasibility of and technology developments required for missions ranging from package delivery to thin-haul (9-passenger commuter) missions. Below are the eight (8) ODM-related investigation/development subtasks to be performed under this task order (task): 1. Feasible near-term concept for operations for a small unmanned aerial system (suas) package delivery scenario (identified in the SOW) 2. Thin-haul mission 3. High-lift propeller design 4. State of the art manufacturing techniques for flexible, automated composite layup and additive manufacturing 5. Existing noise metrics to four classes of air vehicles 6. Time and costs associated with pilot training from AB initio through a commercial instrument, multi-engine certification level 7. LOS angeles, california (LA) metropolitan area as a potential early adopter market for on-demand air transportation 8. Conceptual analysis of a centrifugal fan (CF) system designed for use a small vtol aircraft as part of a distributed electric propulsion system