This STTR Phase I will develop (1) multidisciplinary optimization (MDO) software tools for co-design of highly reliable and lightweight motors and drives for Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft propulsion, and (2) a novel polyphase motor and drive propulsion architecture to achieve groundbreaking levels of reliability and flight safety at unprecedented power-to-weight ratios. The MDO tools will analyze redundant polyphase motors and drives and will build on LaunchPoint TechnologiesÂ’ existing MDO toolset for 3-phase propulsion systems. Fault-tree analysis combined with efficiency and weight models will enable design trades of reliability vs. weight and efficiency. Finally, the design of polyphase motors and drives will be framed in terms of its impact on the performance medevac eVTOL vehicles.
