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X-57 Power and Command System DesignThis paper describes the power and command system architecture of the X-57 Maxwell flight demonstrator aircraft. The X-57 is an experimental aircraft designed to demonstrate radically improved aircraft efficiency with a 3.5 times aero-propulsive efficiency gain at a "high-speed cruise" flight condition for comparable general aviation aircraft. These gains are enabled by integrating the design of a new, optimized wing and a new electric propulsion system. As a result, the X-57 vehicle takes advantage of the new capabilities afforded by electric motors as primary propulsors. Integrating new technologies into critical systems in experimental aircraft poses unique challenges that require careful design considerations across the entire vehicle system, such as qualification of new propulsors (motors, in the case of the X-57 aircraft), compatibility of existing systems with a new electric power distribution bus, and instrumentation and monitoring of newly qualified propulsion system devices.
Document ID
20170005797
Acquisition Source
Armstrong Flight Research Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Clarke, Sean
(NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center Edwards, CA United States)
Redifer, Matthew
(NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center Edwards, CA United States)
Papathakis, Kurt
(NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center Edwards, CA United States)
Samuel, Aamod
(NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center Edwards, CA United States)
Foster, Trevor
(Empirical Systems Aerospace, Inc. Pismo Beach, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
June 28, 2017
Publication Date
May 2, 2017
Subject Category
Aircraft Design, Testing And Performance
Aircraft Propulsion And Power
Report/Patent Number
AFRC-E-DAA-TN40578
Meeting Information
Meeting: IEEE Transportation Electrification Conference and Expo
Location: Chicago, IL
Country: United States
Start Date: June 22, 2017
End Date: June 24, 2017
Sponsors: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
Keywords
electric propulsion
test facilities
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