ACT-TILT - Active control technologies for tiltrotor
Overview
Background & policy context:
As the air passenger traffic continues to grow, by at least 5% per year, airport congestion becomes a mounting problem in Europe. Because of environmental constraints, airport extensions are more and more difficult to achieve and there is an increasing pressure for finding innovative solutions to cope with the air traffic growth expected within the next 20 years.
As already evidenced during the AIRPORT-IV study sponsored mid 90's by DG-VII, one of these innovative solutions could be the use of Rotorcraft for some of the hub-feeder missions which are today achieved with turboprop aircraft.
Indeed, thanks to their inherent Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) capability, Rotorcraft are able to reach airports without using the main runways which, in that case, could be reserved for large capacity medium/long haul jet airplanes.
Objectives:
The prime objective of the ACT-TILT project was to study some of the critical aspects of the Tilt-Rotor in order to reduce the development risk of a flying demonstrator:
- Flight Mechanics Models Improvements
- Handling Qualities Criteria
- Pre-design of Flight Control System
- Advanced Control Laws
- Power / Thrust Management
- Sidestick and Cockpit Layout
Methodology:
Pilot-in-the-loop simulations have been largely used to validate the different elements developed during this project.
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