Auburn University LPC-03 Phoenix (concept design)

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

LPC-03 Phoenix (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 Dr. Chakraborty, PhD seeking graduate students as well as undergraduate researchers, has designed multiple 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 $1.7 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.

LPC-03 Phoenix passenger eVTOL concept design aircraft
The LPC-03 Phoenix is a passenger eVTOL concept design with all-electric, hybrid-electric, and turbo-electric propulsion system variants. The aircraft holds one pilot, three passengers and their luggage. It is a high-wing lift-plus-cruise (LPC) design with eight lift propulsors located on four wing-mounted booms.

The approximate range of the all-electric variant is two back-to-back 81 mile (130 kilometer) trips. For the hybrid-electric variant, the range is expected to be two back-to-back 145 mile (234 kilometer) trips. The range of the turbo-electric design is predicted to be two 88 mile (142 kilometer) trips. The empty weight (excluding batteries) is estimated to be 3,329 lb (2,280 kg) for the turbo-electric variant. For each, the intended maximum payload weight is 882 lb (400 kg) and the estimated maximum takeoff weight is 6,173 lb (2,800 kg).

The aircraft has a total of nine propulsors, each a variable-pitch propeller powered by an electric motor. Eight of them are VTOL-only lift propulsors and are mounted on four booms. These are stopped in forward flight, during which forward thrust is provided by one pusher propeller at the rear of the fuselage. The aircraft will be made from carbon fiber composite for a high strength to low weight ratio. The windows are planned to be the same size as you would find on a typical general aviation aircraft. The aircraft has two vertical stabilizers on the aft ends of the inboard booms and a horizontal stabilizer on top of the vertical stabilizers. The aircraft has fixed tricycle wheeled landing gear.

Safety features include distributed electric propulsion (DEP) featuring multiple propulsors (propellers + drive motors) so that if one or more propulsors fail, the other working propulsors 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 lift-plus-cruise aircraft has no tilting components when transitioning between vertical and forward flight which increases safety by reducing complexity. The tricycle gear also allows the aircraft to land conventionally on a runway or road in emergencies.

Specifications:

• Aircraft type: Passenger eVTOL and hybrid-electric VTOL concept design aircraft
• Piloting: 1 pilot
• Capacity: 3 passengers
• Cruise speed: 200 knots/ 230 mph/ 370 km/h
• Range (batteries only): two back-to-back 81 mile (130 kilometer) trips
• Range (hybrid-electric): two back-to-back 145 mile (234 kilometer) trips
• Range (turbo-electric): two back-to-back 88 mile (142 kilometer) trips
• Empty weight (excluding batteries): all-electric: 3,329 lb (1,510 kg), hybrid-electric: 4,246 lb (1,826 kg), turbo-electric: 5,026 lb (2,280 kg)
• Maximum payload weight: 882 lb (400 kg)
• Maximum takeoff weight: 6,173 lb (2,800 kg)
• Propellers: 9 propellers. 8 VTOL-only propellers and 1 pusher propellers for forward flight. There are four booms which the VTOL propellers are mounted on.
• Electric motors: 9 electric motors
• Power source: Battery packs (all-electric), battery packs + turbo-generators (hybrid-electric), turbo-generators (turbo-electric)Fuselage: Carbon fiber composite
• Wing: 1 high main wing. 38.52 ft (11.74 m) span
• Tail: Two boom mounted vertical stabilizers with horizontal stabilizer on top
• Windows: The windows are similar in size to a general aviation airplane
• Landing gear: Fixed tricycle wheeled landing gear
• Safety features: Distributed electric propulsion (DEP) means having multiple propulsors (propellers + drive motors) so that if one or more propulsors fail, the other working propulsors 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 lift-plus-cruise aircraft has no tilting components when transitioning between vertical and forward flight which increases safety by reducing complexity. The tricycle gear also allow the aircraft to land conventionally on a runway or road in emergencies.

Related Aircraft:

• Auburn University Hexa-Chakra Personal Air Vehicle (concept design)
• Auburn University LPC-01 Pushpak (concept design)
• Auburn University LPC-02 DUeVTOL (concept design)
• Auburn University TW-01 Minokawa (concept design)
• Auburn University TW-02 Pangolin (concept design)
• Auburn University VT-02 Sevak (concept design)

Company Insights:

• Crunchbase
• Pitchbook

Resources:

• (1) Chakraborty, I. and Mishra, A.A., “Sizing and Analysis of a Lift-Plus-Cruise Aircraft with Electrified Propulsion,” AIAA Journal of Aircraft, Vol. 60, No. 3, pp. 747-765 (Article in Advance, Nov 1, 2022), DOI: 10.2514/1.C037044
• 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
• Video: Chakraborty & Mishra: Sizing and Analysis of a LPC VTOL Aircraft with Electrified Propulsion Systems, Vehicle Systems, Dynamics, and Design Laboratory, July 6, 2022