Aerodynamic performance of two eVTOL concepts

Abstract

Today`s demand of urban mobility is constantly growing due to the demographic changes observed in metropolitan areas. New concepts such as electrical vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles are currently emerging. Yet, the question is, whether these vehicles will prevail. While the design of those vehicles is highly multi-disciplinary, this work focuses on the aerodynamics governing these small air taxi concepts. Re-engineering two vehicles configurations loosely based on existing designs are investigated to grant more insights into the advantages and disadvantages of RPM controlled thrust as well as distributed electric propulsion (DEP). The RPM control al-lows for a high Figure of Merit in a wide thrust range, while distributing multiple rotors over a tilt-wing configuration reduces the power requirements in hover as well as cruise flight. The outcome of this study is that both designs are aerodynamically feasible and grant the performance promised. Whether eVTOLs will prevail will likely be not decided by pure aerodynamic considerations.