Active Projects
SAF-Compatible Hybrid-Electric Propulsion for a Fixed-Wing Aircraft
Sponsor: NASA Glenn Research Center (SBIR Phase I and II)
Duration: July 10, 2025 – July 9, 2027 (Phase II, active); August 7, 2024 – Feb 6, 2025 (Phase I, completed)
Performing entities: Rune Aero Inc. and VSDDL (Auburn University)
This project is aimed at investigating all-electric and hybrid-electric propulsion for an autonomous cargo aircraft using multidisciplinary design analysis and optimization (MDAO) applied to the design of the full-scale aircraft as well as a subscale flight demonstrator which will be test flown during Phase II. The PEACE framework will be used to support the MDAO activities. The MADCASP framework will be used to support flight simulation, control law development, and flight-testing activities.
Related publications:
* Phase I project description on NASA TechPort: https://techport.nasa.gov/projects/158290
Completed Projects
Vy 400 – A Revolutionary Dual-Use AAM VTOL Designed for Simplified Vehicle Operations
Sponsor: United States Air Force Agility Prime Program (STTR Phase I and II)
Duration: June 15, 2022 – Feb 15, 2025 (Phase II); Dec 14, 2020 – June 14, 2021 (Phase I)
Performing entities: Transcend Air Corporation and VSDDL (Auburn University)
The goal of this project was to demonstrate the Simplified Vehicle Operations (SVO) philosophy for the Transcend Air Corporation Vy 400 tilt-wing concept. In Phase I, this was demonstrated for the Vy 400 using VSDDL Flight Simulator #3 (Sim 3). In Phase II, the TAC/AU Vy 7.5.1 Risk Reduction Test Vehicle (RRTV) was designed, fabricated, and used to support a flight-test campaign that successfully demonstrated both fully-autonomous and manually piloted flight using the SVO flight control laws. At the heart of the flight control system architecture was the Trajectory Control System (TCS). The MADCASP framework was used extensively to support this project.
Related publications and media:
* VFS Forum 81 paper on Trajectory Control System (TCS) and Tactical Maneuvering System (TMS): F-0081-2025-0406
* VFS Forum 80 paper on Trajectory Control System (TCS): F-0080-2024-1306
* Video showing autonomous transition flight from Jan 4, 2025: YouTube
* Video showing autonomous transition flight from Dec 7, 2024: YouTube
* Business Wire, “Transcend Air Awarded Key Air Force Project to Develop Simplified Vehicle Operation and High Speed Nap of the Earth VTOL Flight,” April 5, 2021 (Link to article)
* Montgomery, C., “Aerospace faculty member part of six Air Force Agility Prime awards,” Auburn University College of Engineering website, April 30, 2021 (Link to article)
OpenAirframe: A Framework for eVTOL Multimodal Design-Space Exploration and Optimization
Sponsor: NASA Ames Research Center (SBIR Phase I)
Duration: Aug 7, 2024 – Feb 6, 2025
Performing entities: DARcorporation and VSDDL (Auburn University)
During this project, DARcorporation and Auburn University collaborated on the development of a design, analysis, and optimization framework called OpenAirFrame, intended to tackle the challenges associated with assessing system architectures and conceptual aircraft design in a complex, multimodal design space with both continuous and discrete design variables.
Related publications:
* Phase I project description on NASA TechPort: https://techport.nasa.gov/projects/158285
Air Vehicle Gust Response Analysis for Early Design
Sponsor: NASA Ames Research Center (STTR Phase I and II)
Duration: Jan 26, 2021 – Jan 25, 2023 (Phase II); Aug 19, 2019 – Sep 18, 2020 (Phase I)
Performing entities: Research in Flight and VSDDL (Auburn University)
This STTR project funded by NASA Ames Research Center aimed to develop simulation and analysis capabilities for gust encounters and gust load alleviation for distributed electric propulsion (DEP) enabled urban air mobility (UAM) concepts. It resulted in the development of Controls and Load Alleviation Simulation Platform (CLASP), a MATLAB/Simulink based framework for simulating gust/turbulence encounters, gust load alleviation algorithms, and structural dynamics. Initial proof-of-concept gust encounter simulations were demonstrated for the NASA LA-8 concept.
Related publications:
* Phase I project description on NASA TechPort: https://techport.nasa.gov/projects/102208
* Phase II project description on NASA TechPort: https://techport.nasa.gov/projects/113076
Flight Simulation-Driven Research into Simplified Vehicle Operations for Urban Air Mobility
Sponsor: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
Duration: Aug 18, 2021 – Oct 17, 2022
Performing entity: VSDDL (Auburn University)
This project had four main objectives: (i) investigate the design of pilot-friendly flight control systems that facilitate the Simplified Vehicle Operations (SVO) paradigm; (ii) develop streamlined cockpit displays that convey relevant information to the UAM pilot without causing information overload; (iii) assess multiple inceptor designs and inceptor-to-command mappings; (iv) assess how prior piloting experience (or lack thereof) impacts performance on representative UAM piloting tasks. VSDDL Flight Simulator #1 (Sim 1) and #3 (Sim 3) supported the piloted simulation trials for this project.
Related publications:
* Project final report on FAA server: DOT/FAA/TC-23/10
* Paper in AIAA Journal of Aerospace Information Systems: DOI: 10.2514/1.I011249
* McAdory, J., “Aerospace professor, students, awarded funds from FAA for research,” Dec 13, 2021 (Link to article)
Use of Pilot Models to Support Design, Analysis & Certification of UAM Vehicles
Sponsor: NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center (SBIR Phase II)
Duration: July 20, 2021 – July 19, 2023
Performing entities: Systems Technology Inc. and VSDDL (Auburn University)
In this project, VSDDL supported STI in the development of pilot models to support certification of UAM vehicles. VSDDL Flight Simulator #3 (Sim 3) was used to collect piloted simulation data on a “third-party” lift-plus-cruise aircraft model developed by VSDDL independently of STI. The third-party model was integrated into the U-PASS toolbox developed by STI.
Related publications:
* Project description on NASA TechPort: https://techport.nasa.gov/projects/154787
Modular Generalized Framework for Assessing Aircraft Aero-Propulsive, Stability, and Control Characteristics
Sponsor: NASA Langley Research Center (TTT Project)
Duration: Dec 18, 2018 – Dec 15, 2021
Performing entities: Research in Flight, LLC and VSDDL (Auburn University)
This three-year project was funded by NASA Langley Research Center under the Transformational Tools and Technologies (TTT) Project. It was VSDDL’s first externally funded research project and fundamentally shaped the current VSDDL research program. It resulted in the development of Modular Aircraft Dynamics and Control Algorithm Simulation Platform (MADCASP), a MATLAB/Simulink based aircraft and control systems simulation platform. MADCASP is now at the heart of all VSDDL stability and control analysis, real-time human-in-the-loop flight simulation, and subscale flight-testing activities, and has enabled multiple technical publications.
The YouTube video below demonstrates a piloted simulation of the NASA LA-8 tandem tilt-wing e-VTOL configuration. The flight dynamics and flight control system architecture were modeled using MADCASP and simulated in real-time on a VSDDL flight simulator.
Dual-Use UAM e-VTOL Aircraft – Design, Analysis and Testing Capabilities
Sponsor: United States Air Force Agility Prime Program
Duration: Jan 15, 2021 – July 15, 2021
Performing entities: DARcorporation and VSDDL (Auburn University)
This project involved sizing studies, performance analysis, and simulation model development for a dual-use Urban Air Mobility (UAM) lift-plus-cruise aircraft that featured six ducted fan lift propulsors and two wing-mounted cruise propulsors. The sizing studies were conducted using VSDDL’s Parametric Energy-based Aircraft Configuration Evaluator (PEACE) framework, and considered both all-electric and hybrid-electric propulsion systems across a range of battery technology levels (energy densities). The simulation and flight control system models were developed using MADCASP, and feature Total Energy Control System (TECS) and Total Heading Control System (THCS) flight control schemes. Further details about DUeVTOL are available under the “Hangar” page. The general DUeVTOL configuration is shown below.
Related publications:
* Chakraborty, I., Mishra, A.A., van Dommelen, D., and Anemaat, W.A.J., “Design and Sizing of an Electrified Lift-Plus-Cruise Ducted Fan Aircraft,” AIAA Journal of Aircraft, Vol. 60, No. 3, pp. 817-834, May 2023 (Article in Advance, Nov 30, 2022), DOI: 10.2514/1.C036811
* Montgomery, C., “Aerospace faculty member part of six Air Force Agility Prime awards,” Auburn University College of Engineering website, April 30, 2021 (Link to article)
Active Landing Gear for Advanced Air Mobility: Delivering a Safe, Simple and Virtually Silent Aircraft Without the Runway
Sponsor: United States Air Force Agility Prime Program
Duration: March 1, 2021 – August 1, 2021
Performing entities: Metro Hop and VSDDL (Auburn University)
The goal of this project was to develop simulation models to assess the takeoff and landing operations of the Metro Hop aircraft and its novel Active Landing Gear concept. VSDDL developed kinematic and dynamic models of the landing gear, which were incorporated into MADCASP along with an aero-propulsive and flight control system models for the aircraft. MADCASP was then used to perform takeoff and landing simulations while varying a range of parameters of interest.
Related publications:
* Tegler, E., “Active Landing Gear That Launch An Airplane Like A Bird Caught The Air Force’s Attention”, Forbes Aerospace & Defense, April 2, 2021 (Link to article)
* Montgomery, C., “Aerospace faculty member part of six Air Force Agility Prime awards,” Auburn University College of Engineering website, April 30, 2021 (Link to article)
Electric Extended Range Airship with Modular Payload
Sponsor: United States Air Force Agility Prime Program
Duration: Feb 12, 2021 – Aug 11, 2021
Performing entities: Research in Flight, Skyborne Technology Inc., and VSDDL (Auburn University)
The goal of this project was to design, implement, and test propulsion and flight control systems for a 40-foot long airship, which would serve as a demonstrator and test bed for a larger full-scale vehicle. Auburn University was responsible for the design and implementation of the propulsion control system that controlled the subscale airship’s four gimballed propulsors. The project concluded with a successful flight demonstration at Skyborne’s facility in Wewahitchka, FL on September 29, 2021.
Related publications:
* McAdory, J., “Aerospace professors successfully partner with U.S. Air Force Agility Prime Program,” Auburn University College of Engineering website, Jan 12, 2022 (Link to article)
* Montgomery, C., “Aerospace faculty member part of six Air Force Agility Prime awards,” Auburn University College of Engineering website, April 30, 2021 (Link to article)
An Agile, Adaptive Flight Research Simulator for Dual-Use Military and Urban Air Mobility Aircraft Development
Sponsor: United States Air Force Agility Prime Program
Duration: Nov 27, 2020 – May 15, 2021
Performing entities: Avilution and VSDDL (Auburn University)
The goal of this project was to integrate Avilution’s eXtensible Flight System (XFS) software into the systems architecture of VSDDL’s flight simulators to develop, demonstrate, and commercialize a unique XFS-integrated capability suite that enables Simplified Vehicle Operations (SVO) for revolutionary, next-generation flight vehicles through simplified cockpit displays and synoptics. The integration was demonstrated using VSDDL Flight Simulator #3 (Sim 3) during this Phase I STTR project.
Related publications:
* Boos, A., “Avilution Partners with Auburn University on Agility Prime STTR”, Avilution website, Nov 17, 2020 (Link to article)
* Montgomery, C., “Aerospace faculty member part of six Air Force Agility Prime awards,” Auburn University College of Engineering website, April 30, 2021 (Link to article)
Electric Scalable Aerial Transport – Benefits of a Helicopter at the Cost of Ground Transportation
Sponsor: United States Air Force Agility Prime Program
Duration: Feb 10, 2021 – Aug 9, 2021
Performing entities: Research in Flight, Blueflite, and VSDDL (Auburn University)
The goals of this project were to perform multi-mission sizing and performance analyses for the novel Blueflite (formerly Flugauto) VTOL aircraft concept to demonstrate its dual-use potential and to develop flight simulation models to enable piloted simulation of this concept for manned/human transport missions.
Related publications:
* “AFWERX supported electric scalable aerial transport project launched “, sUAS News, February 24, 2021 (Link to article)
* Montgomery, C., “Aerospace faculty member part of six Air Force Agility Prime awards,” Auburn University College of Engineering website, April 30, 2021 (Link to article)
Collaborative Flight Data Driven General Aviation Safety Research
Sponsor: Auburn University Intramural Grants Program (IGP)
Duration: March 2019 – March 31, 2023
Performing entities: AU Department of Aviation & VSDDL (Department of Aerospace Engineering)
The goal of this project was to conduct research using real-world flight data to model General Aviation (GA) aircraft performance, analyze safety of flight retro-actively, and eventually enhance flight safety pro-actively in real-time. It was supported by Auburn University’s Intramural Grants Program (IGP) and was a collaborative effort with the Department of Aviation. A Garmin G1000-equipped Cessna 172 aircraft operating out of Auburn University Regional Airport (KAUO) was used to collect flight data for calibrating and validating developed models and algorithms. Retrospective analysis of flight data collected from the Department of Aviation’s fleet of Cessna 172 aircraft was also conducted.
Related publications:
* Comer, A., Swartz, S., and Chakraborty, I., “Data-Driven General Aviation Aircraft Performance Modeling and Safety Research,” AIAA AVIATION 2020 Forum (virtual event), June 15-19, 2020, AIAA-2020-3097
Generalized Energy-Based Aircraft Sizing and Mission Performance Analysis
Sponsor: Auburn University Intramural Grants Program (IGP)
Duration: Mar 2019 – Mar 2021
Performing entity: VSDDL (Auburn University)
The goal of this project was to develop a generalized energy-based aircraft sizing and mission analysis framework capable of handling air vehicles employing wing-borne, rotor-borne, or buoyant lift or a combination thereof, as well as all-electric, hybrid-electric, and conventional fuel-consuming propulsion system architectures. This project provided the initial funding that led to the successful development of the Parametric Energy-based Aircraft Configuration Evaluator (PEACE) framework. The PEACE framework features a parametric geometry definition of the aircraft, explicit trim solutions for both mission analysis and power sizing, a resizing rule-set governing updates of the aircraft geometry and characteristics during sizing, and the ability to incorporate a wide range of aero-propulsive modeling approaches. PEACE is now the backbone of all VSDDL aircraft sizing and optimization activities and the first step of the VSDDL research and development pipeline.