KSU Uses Series 1780 for UAS Propulsion Research

Dr. Blake Stringer and his students from the College of Aeronautics & Engineering at Kent State University in Ohio has been using two versions of the RCbenchmark Series 1780 for UAS propulsion projects funded by both the U.S. Department of Defense and the State of Ohio.  It is one of the center pieces of the Kent State University eVTOL Propulsion Laboratory.

Kent State students Julia Taylor and Matt Zirckel prepare their eVTOL Test Stand for an upcoming experiment.

Dr. Stringer’s research using the RCbenchmark Series 1780 is currently focused on three areas: (1) scalability of sUAS electric motors to support the emerging eVTOL market of autonomous or near autonomous air platforms for cargo and urban air mobility applications, (2) thermal considerations and management of sUAS eVTOL motors under high-power conditions, and (3) alternative propulsion energy sources to increase the flight endurance of UAS platforms.  See a video of thermal runaway in action on the test stand.

Dr. Stringer and his student researchers have published their results with the Vertical Flight Society (VFS), the Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), and the Army Research Laboratory.

“The RCbenchmark test stands have been instrumental to increasing our understanding of the behavior of electric motors for eVTOL applications, and its addition to our lab has resulted in the continuation of funded research in this important and emerging technology in 21st Century Aviation.”

Dr. Stringer, Ph.D. 

Associate Professor, Aerospace Engineering

Kent State University

References:

1. Edmonds, K. Stringer, D., Valco, M., “Experimental Results of Transient Variable Speed Rotor Performance for Small UAS Propulsion Scalability,” Vertical Flight Society 76th Annual Forum, October 6-8, 2020, Virtual.

2. Gajowski, A, Fertig, A., Stringer, D., “Unmanned eVTOL Propulsion Scalability: Thermal Characterization of UAS Motors via Experimentation,” Poster Session, AUVSI Xponential, October 5-9, 2020, Virtual.

3.  Stringer, D., Edmonds, K., D., Valco, M., “A Prediction Model of Transient Variable Speed Rotor Performance for Small UAS Propulsion Scalability,” Vertical Flight Society 76th Annual Forum, October 6-8, 2020, Virtual.

4.  Edmonds, K., and Stringer, D., “Unmanned VTOL Propulsion Research – Scalability of Quadcopter Rotor-Motor Configurations Outside the sUAS Regime,” Final Report, ARL-CR-0848, Grant No. W911NF-18-2-0024, May 2020, https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/AD1102551.pdf.

5.  Edmonds, K. Stringer, D., “Unmanned VTOL Propulsion Research – Scalability of Quadcopter Rotor-Motor Configurations Outside the sUAS Regime,” AUVSI Xponential, April 29 – May 2, 2019, Chicago, Illinois.