Auburn University Hexa-Chakra Personal Air Vehicle (concept design)

(Image credit: Vehicle Systems, Dynamics and Design Laboratory, Auburn University)

Hexa-Chakra Personal Air Vehicle (concept design)
Vehicle Systems, Dynamics and Design Laboratory
Aerospace Engineering
Auburn University
Auburn, Alabama, USA
www.vsddl.com

Founded in August 2018 by Dr. Imon Chakraborty, the Vehicle Systems, Dynamics and Design Laboratory is a research lab that focuses on aircraft systems, dynamics, control, flight simulation and then incorporating these aspects into aircraft sizing and design. A flight vehicle, whether novel or conventional, is a central theme of the lab. The research team, consisting of PhD seeking graduate students as well as undergraduate researchers, has designed multiple passenger and air cargo electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) and hybrid-electric VTOL concept design aircraft for advanced air mobility (AAM).

Since the lab was founded, the research facility has received more than $1.5 million (USD) in externally funded research, including funding from Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), NASA and the United States Air Force (USAF) and is also collaborating with multiple industry partners.

Hexa-Chakra Personal Air Vehicle passenger eVTOL multicopter concept design aircraft
The Hexa-Chakra Personal Air Vehicle (HCPAV) is a one passenger fly-by-wire eVTOL multicopter concept design aircraft designed for Phase 1 of the HeroX GoFly competition (USA). The GoFly competition mission profile involves vertical takeoff, followed by a climb to a safe altitude, a speed run of six laps around a one mile course (1.85 kilometers, 1 nautical mile), a demonstration of a touch-and-go landing, loitering to demonstrate at least 20 minutes endurance and then a descent to accomplish a vertical landing.

The cockpit controls were designed to be similar to ground vehicles with an automotive styled accelerator, brake pedals and a handle bar (a U shaped handle bar). This way, a person who knows how to drive a car, could with minimal training, operate the multicopter aircraft. The foot accelerator is used to move the multicopter forward while the handle bar keeps the aircraft going straight and also turns the aircraft left or right. Pushing or pulling on the handle bar makes the aircraft go up or down.

The estimated cruise speed of the multicopter is 60 mph (97 km/h) and is a low altitude aircraft. The flight time is calculated to be 24 minutes plus has a 10 minute reserve. The multicopter has six ducted propellers, uses six electric motors and uses lithium polymer batteries for its power source. The aircraft has an open cockpit with a Tillett B7 racing seat with safety harnesses and has an interface for a head and neck safety (HANS) device. The empty weight of the multicopter is expected to be 347 lb (158 kg), with a maximum payload weight of 200 lb (91 kg) and has a maximum takeoff weight of 547 lb (249 kg).

The frame of the fuselage is made from aircraft aluminum and other materials. The length of the multicopter is 5.54 ft (1.69 m), has a width of 4.64 ft (1.41 m) and a height of 4.87 ft (1.48 m). The aircraft has fixed tricycle wheeled landing gear. The front nose gear is steerable and the rear landing wheels have brakes.

Some safety features include distributed electric propulsion (DEP) which means that if one or two propellers stop working, the remainder propellers can land the aircraft safely. There are also redundancies of critical components in the sub-systems of the aircraft providing safety through redundancy. Having multiple redundant systems on any aircraft decreases having any single point of failure. The aircraft has no moving surfaces or tilting parts when transitioning from vertical to forward flight and the reverse which increases safety by reducing complexity. The racing seat has safety harnesses and an interface for a head and neck safety (HANS) device. There is a roll bar to protect the pilot in case the multicopter rolls over during takeoff or landing. There is also a whole aircraft emergency ballistic parachute in case of an unexpected inflight emergency.

Specifications:

• Aircraft type: Passenger eVTOL multicopter concept design aircraft
• Piloting: 1 pilot
• Cruise speed: 60 mph (97 km/h)
• Flight time: 24 minutes plus a 10 minute reserve
• Empty weight: 347 lb (158 kg)
• Maximum payload weight: 200 lb (91 kg)
• Maximum takeoff weight: 547 lb (249 kg)
• Propellers: 6 ducted propellers
• Electric motors: 6 electric motors
• Power source: Lithium polymer batteries (3 of these batteries)
• Fuselage: Aircraft aluminum and other materials
• Length: 5.54 ft (1.69 m)
• Width: 4.64 ft (1.41 m)
• Height: 4.87 ft (1.48 m)
• Cockpit: Open cockpit with a Tillett B7 racing seat with safety harnesses and an interface for a Head and Neck Safety (HANS) device
• Landing gear: Fixed tricycle wheeled landing gear. The nose gear is steerable and the rear wheels have brakes.
• Safety features: Distributed electric propulsion (DEP) means having multiple propellers (or electric ducted fans) and multiple electric motors on an aircraft so if one or more propellers (or electric ducted fans) or some electric motors fail, the other working propellers (or electric ducted fans) and electric motors can safely land the aircraft. DEP provides safety through redundancy for passengers or cargo. There are also redundancies of critical components in the sub-systems of the aircraft providing safety through redundancy. Having multiple redundant systems on any aircraft decreases having any single point of failure. The aircraft has no moving surfaces or tilting parts when transitioning from vertical to forward flight and the reverse which increases safety by reducing complexity. The racing seat has safety harnesses and an interface for a head and neck safety (HANS) device. There is a roll bar to protect the pilot in case the multicopter rolls over during takeoff or landing. There is also a whole aircraft emergency ballistic parachute in case of an unexpected inflight emergency.

Related Aircraft:

• Auburn University LPC-01 Pushpak (concept design)
• Auburn University LPC-02 DUeVTOL (concept design)
• Auburn University LPC-03 Phoenix (concept design)
• Auburn University TW-01 Minokawa (concept design)

Company Insights:

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Resources:

• Vehicle Systems, Dynamics and Design Laboratory, Auburn University website
• Vehicle Systems, Dynamics and Design Laboratory (eVTOL aircraft list), Auburn University website
• Vehicle Systems, Dynamics and Design Laboratory, Auburn University Facebook
• Vehicle Systems, Dynamics and Design Laboratory, Auburn University Twitter
• Vehicle Systems, Dynamics and Design Laboratory, Auburn University YouTube Channel
• Imon Chakraborty LinkedIn
• Auburn University website
• Video: VSDDL - Meet the Crew (Dec 2020), Vehicle Systems, Dynamics, and Design Laboratory, Dec. 14, 2020
• Article: Aerospace faculty member part of six Air Force Agility Prime awards, Auburn University, Apr. 30, 2021