Auburn University TW-01 Minokawa (concept design)

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

VSDDL (Auburn University) TW-01 Minokawa (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 designs 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.

TW-01 Minokawa passenger eVTOL concept design aircraft
The TW-01 Minokawa is a passenger eVTOL concept design aircraft with all-electric and hybrid-electric propulsion variants. The aircraft has three tilting surfaces: a fore canard, a main wing, and an aft stabilizer that is mounted atop two vertical stabilizers.

The estimated cruise speed of the aircraft is 200 knots/ 230 mph/ 370 km/h and has a nominal cruise altitude of 3,000 ft (914.4 m). The all-electric variant is capable of two back-to-back 75 mile (121 km) trips. The hybrid-electric variant is capable of two back-to-back 155 mile (250 km) trips. The empty weight is 3,300 lb (1,497 kg) for the all-electric variant and 3,882 lb (1,761 kg) for the hybrid-electric variant. The maximum payload weight is 882 lb (400 kg) for both. The estimated maximum takeoff weight is 6,000 lb (2,721 kg) for both.

The aircraft has a total of eight propulsors (each a variable pitch propeller driven by an electric motor). The aircraft has three tilting surfaces: a fore canard with two propulsors, the main wing with four propulsors, and the aft stabilizer with two propulsors. 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 fixed landing gear with two wheels in the front of the aircraft and one wheel in the rear of the aircraft.

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 tiltwing aircraft
• Piloting: 1 pilot
• Capacity: 3 passengers
• Cruise speed: 230 mph (370 km/h)
• Cruise altitude: 3,000 ft (914.4 m)
• Range (all-electric): two back-to-back 75 mile (121 km) trips
• Range (hybrid-electric): two back-to-back 155 mile (250 km) trips
• Empty weight: 3,300 lb (1,497 kg) for all-electric variant, 3,882 lb (1,761 kg) for hybrid-electric variant
• Maximum payload weight: 882 lb (400 kg)
• Maximum takeoff weight: 6,000 lb (2,721 kg)
• Propellers: 8 propellers
• Electric motors: 8 electric motors
• Power source: battery packs (all-electric) or battery packs + turbo-generator (hybrid-electric)
• Fuselage: Carbon fiber composite
• Wings: 1 high main tiltwing (34.65 ft or 10.56 m)
• Tail: 1 tilting-horizontal stabilizer mounted on two fixed vertical stabilizers, one tilting canard
• Windows: The windows are similar in size to a general aviation airplane
• Landing gear: Fixed landing gear, two wheels in the front and one wheel in the rear of the aircraft.
• 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 LPC-03 Phoenix (concept design)

Company Insights:

• Crunchbase
• Pitchbook

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