Project for 2023-2024 Advanced Aircraft Design Project

This project is part of the new ECOR4907 a multidisciplinary engineering project course, and for this project students from the Dept. of Electronics will work together with students from the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE).

This project will focus on the design of an aircraft system that meets the National Research Councils Integrated Autonomous Mobility (IAM) design mission. This is a small aircraft capable of carrying up to 4 passengers and a pilot, but also being convertible to aeromedical and cargo missions. There are requirements for a range of 300km, operation in typical temperatures found in most of Canada throughout a year and with a focus on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions through the lifecycle of the aircraft. More details are at the end of this description.

As well as working with MAE students, there will be five lead engineers, four from the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and one from the Department of Electronics, Prof Steele. Electronics students will be working on the avionics areas as well as electrical power. The aircraft power could possibly be electric, fuel cell or hybrid. Avionics includes guidance, control, communication, displays, sensors (including aircraft health monitoring) and autopilot. There will need to be power provided for passengers as well as for medical equipment in the aeromedical mission.

This is a chance to work on a large group project (approx 30 students and 5 lead engineers) and to work on the full design for a future aircraft.

Meetings will be Mondays 8:35 to 11:25am and secondary meetings Friday at 10:05 to 11:25am.

—————

Project details from the Advanced Aircraft Design Project Memorandum by Prof. J. Laliberté.

•   Advanced air mobility (AAM) system based on NRC’s Integrated Air Mobility requirements

•       Differs from popular “air taxi” concepts with a longer range, icing protection and requirement for fixed wing lift generation

•       Other requirements

•       Autonomous and pilotless capabilities

•       Reduced GHG emissions over entire life cycle

•       Design for accessibility

•       NAV Canada UTM/RTM compliant

•       Performance

•       300 km range, 100-200 kts cruise airspeed capability, 3000 kg MTOW, Divert range of 10 km

•       Nominal cruise at 1500 m AGL, Service ceiling of 3000 m ASL

•       -40°C to 50°C operating temperature range

•       Vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capability from typical helipads

•       Prepared or unprepared landing fields

•       Optionally piloted/pilotless operations

•       Capable of operating IFR and limited operations in known icing

•       Limited icing protection system

•       Notional Missions

•       Aeromedical mission

•       1 pilot, 1 air ambulance stretcher with patient (100 kg), 1 paramedic (100 kg), 100 kg equipment (https://spectrum-aeromed.com/project/20-2200-series/)

•       Cargo mission

•       1 pilot plus 500 kg palleted cargo

•       North American standard forklift pallet

•       Standard mission

•       1 pilot plus 4 passengers, 100 kg baggage

•       Transport Canada “Standard Weight of Passengers” of 96.2 kg (winter, males 12 yrs and up) from AC 700-022.