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Air Vehicle Technologies

Description:

The Vehicle Systems Technology topic solicits cutting-edge research in aeronautics to overcome technology barriers and challenges in developing highly efficient aircraft systems of the future, with limited impact to the environment. The primary objective is the development of innovative design tools, capabilities and technologies that provide design and system solutions and capabilities to meet the national goals in cleaner environment, reduced noise and highly energy efficient and revolutionary aircraft for the next generation (NextGen) air transportation system. This topic solicits physics-based, multidisciplinary design, analysis and optimization tools and capabilities to facilitate assessment of new vehicle designs and their potential performance characteristics. These tools and capabilities will enable the best design solutions to meet the performance and environmental requirements and challenges, and technology innovations of future air vehicles. It also solicits research in revolutionary aircraft concepts; lightweight high strength structures and materials; more efficient propulsion systems; advanced concepts for high lift and low drag aircraft that meet the performance, efficiency and environmental requirements of future aircraft, and the goals of NextGen. Beginning in FY12, this topic covers aircraft technologies formerly covered by the Fundamental Aeronautics topic as well as ground and flight test technologies formerly covered by the Aeronautics Test topic. The re-structuring will emphasize development of tools, technologies, test techniques, and knowledge to meet metrics derived from a definitive set of Technical Challenges responsive to the goals of the National Aeronautics Research and Development Plan (2010) and the NASA Strategic Plan (2011). • Fixed Wing Vehicles - Technologies and concepts for subsonic transport aircraft, propulsion system energy efficiency and environmental compatibility supported by enabling tools and methods. Targeted challenges include drag and weight reduction for fuselages and high aspect ratio wings, quiet high performance high-lift and propulsion systems, high performance clean, alternative-fuel burning gas generators, paradigm-changing hybrid-electric propulsion systems, innovative propulsion-airframe integration concepts. • Rotary Wing Vehicles - Advanced Efficient Propulsion (multi-speed lightweight rotorcraft drive trains and variable speed efficient engines), Advanced Concepts and Configurations (aerodynamically efficient rotorcraft, NextGen configurations, and multi-fidelity design and analysis tools), and Community and Passenger Acceptance (NextGen operations and standards, and comfort and safety). • High Speed - Focused on supersonic research, design, and boom mitigation techniques to achieve low boom strength and other elements that will help enable a low-boom experimental aircraft; System Integration Assessment; Supersonic Cruise Efficiency – Propulsion; Supersonic Cruise Efficiency–Airframe; Sonic Boom Modeling; and Jet Noise Research. • Aeronautical Sciences - Broad, cross-cutting discipline research (e.g., some CFD and structures & materials research) that is pervasive across flight regimes, helps develop some low-level concepts and ideas, and provides program-level systems analysis capability to assess balance and impact of program-wide investments. • Aeronautics Test Technologies - Focused on instrumentation, test measurement technology, test techniques, and facility development that apply to NASA aeronautics facilities to help in sustaining and improving our test capabilities at four NASA Centers: Ames Research Center, Dryden Flight Research Center, Glenn Research Center, and Langley Research Center. Classes of facilities include low speed, transonic, and supersonic wind tunnels, air-breathing engine test facilities, the Western Aeronautical Test Range (WATR), support and test bed aircraft, and simulation and loads laboratories.
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