Further Development and Validation of NASA X-57 Maxwell Mission Planning Tool for Mods III and IV

Abstract

The goal of the experimental, fully electric X-57 Maxwell aircraft to enable lower energy consumption at cruise compared to a fuel burning baseline. A sum of subsystem benefits incorporated in the electric, airframe, and propulsion systems result in this reduction in energy consumption. The Mission Planning Tool is used to predict the performance and operation of this aircraft. It captures the aerodynamics, propulsion, heat transfer, and power system of the aircraft with trajectory optimization capabilities throughout all phases of flight. This paper details the continued development of the X-57 Mission Planning Tool and demonstrates its capability to assess the effect of subsystem performance on the integrated aircraft system. The tool can also analyze how the aircraft will react if performance goals, such as electric component efficiencies, are either not met or exceeded. The results presented achieve maximum cruise duration of the X-57 through each stage in development as well as trajectory analyses predicting component efficiency limits and energy consumption.