MDO Framework for DEP Aircraft Design Including Flight Controls

Abstract

Multiple propulsors on distributed electric propulsion (DEP) aircraft drastically widen the design space of these aircraft. The present paper presents the initial development of a prototype multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO) framework for DEP aircraft that accounts for flight controls and aerodynamics. The framework was applied to the NASA single-passenger quadrotor electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicle concept as the baseline configuration. Both conventional optimization procedures consisting of aerodynamic optimization followed by flight control optimization and simultaneous optimization of aerodynamics and flight controls are considered. Results indicate that including flight controls directly in MDO can significantly reduce the number of design cycle iterations and produce a superior design. Areas for aerodynamic and flight control trade-offs are also examined.