WHISPER AERO INC — Department of Defense STTR Phase I: AFX20D-TCSO1

Description

Whisper Aero proposes building a flexible acoustic framework designed to be user-friendly, that enables engineers to easily connect multi-fidelity aerodynamic tools to multiple acoustic models. Though noise is a significant constraint in military and consumer missions, OEMs are still struggling to design for acoustics due to difficulties connecting multi-fidelity, multiple paradigm aerodynamics tools to difficult-to-use propagation tools. We believe we can improve new aircraft noise signatures from American OEMs by providing them licenses or SaaS access to our acoustic framework. We also propose developing a new broadband analysis capability. Broadband noise is dominating current eVTOL, yet there are no good broadband models that capture the physics and geometry. Integration of this broadband tool will prove the flexibility and ease-of-use of the new acoustic framework. As further proof of the utility of both the acoustic framework and the broadband noise tool, we will compare a Joby S4-style open rotor to a ducted rotor similar to a lower disk loading Lilium Jet. We expect to prove that aero-acoustics can be brought forward into the conceptual design process, thus enabling significantly quieter aircraft and propulsor designs. Prior team experience includes aircraft designers and software leaders from major U.S. aerospace corporations.