Hyperion - Three Years of Novel Aircraft Design

摘要

The Hyperion is a blended wing body aircraft architecture that has been developed over three years by international teams of graduate students. The motivations behind its design are NASA's (N+3) goals: 1) Reduce aircraft fuel consumption; 2) Reduce aircraft emissions; 3) Reduce noise. Hyperion team's solutions are: a) Aerodynamically efficient aircraft (inspired by Boeing X-48); b) Use of light weight composite materials; c) Hybrid propulsion technology; d) Assistance from autopilot. Primary tasks for final year were: 1) Finish new carbon-fiber wings; 2) Integrate wings & control surfaces; 3) Finish development of hybrid engine; 4) Finish autopilot fly-by-wire development; 5) Finish, Verify & Validate full A/C integration; 6) Fly & test Hyperion in R/C electric and hybrid configurations; 7) Stretch goal: Fly Hyperion with autopilot.