Autonomous optimized energy management and advanced control for hybrid electric propulsion air vehicles.

The FlightSmart project is led by two pioneering Norwegian companies Maritime Robotics (MR) and Equator Aircraft (EA). Both companies develop air vehicles and have teamed up to develop a new propulsion systems with supporting flight management and control systems. Equator Aircraft has developed a novel 2-seat amphibious aircraft intended for the private aircraft marked. Maritime Robotics is the leading company in Norway developing Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), also called drones. Hybrid systems incorporate an electric engine combined with a light combustion engine. There are several benefits of using hybrid-electric propulsion systems in air vehicles. The most obvious advantages is easier and more reliable operation, longer range, less-emission and lower fuel-consumption. UAS systems particularly need hybrid propulsion systems to extend range and reliability. Use of hybrid electric designs also offers new and attractive design options since distributed propulsion systems open wide new opportunities in the design and development of air vehicles. This area has no products on the market, and multiple problems need research to resolve. Thus, MR and EA have contracted SINTEF and NTNU to solve the multiple challenges in this field. In an aircraft like Equator's hybrid amphibious aircraft, as well as in MR's UAS, many systems must run with no operator intervention. This is challenging, because there are multiple sensors applied and multiple situations and flight regimes that must be detected in order to make the right decisions. This system needs development, and machine learning can help to bring this system into the next generation. - Wind-tunnel tests have been conducted with multiple electrical drive trains for UAVs. This enables the establishment of dynamic models for performance monitoring, fault detection and drivetrain error diagnosis. - Research is ongoing to take advantage of the results obtained above. - Angle of Attack and sideslip angle sensors are being applied to model these parameters in algoritms. The results are ready for publishing. - Route planning for fixed wing UAVs in wind and icing conditions. Application and fusion of meteorological prediction models combined with terrains models and aerodynamic performance models. - The equator prototype aircraft is currently flying and in an intense testing phase. Multiple improvements have been suggested and will be tested, particularly within ergonomics, system integration and sensors. - Two battery systems have been developed, one for the existing prototype and one for commercialization. - Improved battery system for prototype and BMS has been selected for the protype. -Wing-located battery pack development has been initiated. -BMS architecture has been developed. - Heat resistant materials for mechanical integration has been identified and tested

The FlightSmart project is proposed by the two pioneering Norwegian SMEs Maritime Robotics (MR) and Equator Aircraft (EA). They both develop air vehicles and they both see the need for new propulsion systems with supporting flight management and control systems. There are several benefits of using hybrid-electric propulsion systems in air vehicles. The most obvious advantages is easier and more reliable operation, less-emission and lower fuel-consumption. UAS systems doing loitering observation may also benefit greatly of the option of turning off the generator and running on battery power in order to achieve lower noise and reduced chance of detection. Use of hybrid electric designs also offers new and attractive design options since distributed propulsion systems open wide new opportunities in the design and development of air vehicles. The use of electric motors, and different energy providers (i.e batteries, generators or hydrogen fuel cells) allows the weight to be placed where it is most appropriate, and the thrust providers like propellers to be placed in new locations on the airframe or wings opening a spectrum of opportunities for new flying vehicles. Both MR and EA have explored presently available technologies, and have concluded that the hybrid engine solutions currently found in e.g. hybrid electric cars are inappropriate for aircraft. MR and EA have therefore in this application teamed up with SINTEF and NTNU for support in the realization of an energy efficient control and flight management system for light aircraft employing hybrid and electric propulsion. The overall project objective is therefore to create a basis for a commercially viable hybrid drivetrain and a hybrid propulsion control system that enables higher levels of safety, user friendliness and flight efficiency.