On June 26 at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, researchers dropped a full-scale aircraft body modeled after an air taxi from a gantry.
The NASA researchers behind this test and a previous one in late 2022 are investigating materials that best absorb impact forces and generating data for manufacturers to design safer advanced air mobility aircraft with.
“By showcasing elements of a crash alongside how added energy-absorbing technology could help make the aircraft more robust, these tests will help the development of safety regulations for advanced air mobility aircraft, leading to safer designs,” said Justin Littell, test lead, based at Langley.
During the June test, the aircraft was hoisted about 35ft (11m) into the air and released. It swung forward before crashing to the ground.
The impact conditions were like the prior test in 2022, but with the addition of a 10-degree yaw, or twist, to the aircraft’s path. The yaw replicated a certification condition required by Federal Aviation Administration regulations for these kinds of aircraft.
After the drop, researchers evaluated how the structure and batteries withstood the impact, with the material failures closely matched predictions from computer simulations, which were updated using data from the 2022 tests.
The aircraft included energy-absorbing subfloors, similar to crumple zones in cars, which appeared to crush as intended to help protect the seats inside.
The battery experiment involved adding mass to simulate underfloor battery components of eVTOL aircraft to collect acceleration levels. Once analyzed, the team will share the data and insights with the industry and public to enhance further R&D in this area.
This article originally published by NASA and written by Teresa Whiting.
