CUB CRAFTERS, INC. — National Aeronautics and Space Administration STTR Phase I: T15

Description

ELAS (Electric Lift Augmenting Slats) is an eSTOL technology that combines leading-edge slats with a series of small electric ducted fans (EDFs) accelerating the air between the slat and the airfoil. The core of the ELAS concept is the combination of two technologies.nbsp;In 2016 CubCrafters began experimenting with a specialized leading-edge slat to lower the takeoff speed and distance of their aircraft and enhance low-speed maneuverability. Analysis as done using CFD, with units built and flight-tested on a manned research aircraft. The stock craft could take off in 100#39; with the slat lowering this by 35%. This technology has resulted in a patent disclosure and is at TRL 5.nbsp;Parallel to, and independent of the CubCrafters Slat project, Ullman (PI) also began a privately funded project in 2016 to study Electric Ducted Fans (EDFs) enhancing the upper surface flow much like the Boeing#39;s YC-14 and NASA QSRA, but with distributed electric propulsion.nbsp;Extensive wind-tunnel testing showed increases in all lift curve characteristics, Clo, Cla, and Clmax. Typical Clmax increases of 117% were seen, implying a potential halving of the takeoff distance. In-flight tests with the JabirWatt (a Jabiru J260 modified for the project), with its 12% EDF coverage, showed a 16% increase in Clmax, resulting in an 8% decrease in the stall speed. This project has resulted in a patent, Distributed Electric Ducted Fan Wing (10,099,793), October 2018, and is currently at TRL5.nbsp;The combination of these two technologies in ELAS has potential greater than the sum of their parts but is at TRL 1-2. ELAS#39;s potential will be explored in the proposed research with the development of a baseline configuration complete with performance estimates for a STOL mission and CFD tools for future optimization bringing the concept to TRL 3-4