WORLD AIR WAR HISTORY


 
  Italy   Italian Air Force • Aeronautica Militare Italiana (AMI)
Italian Republic (Repubblica Italiana)

Italian Air Force  •   •   •   •   •   •   • 
AF NEWS  •  AF HISTORY

“Project Zero” All-Electric Tilt Rotor Tech. Demonstrator International Collaboration

“Project Zero” All-Electric Tilt Rotor Tech. Demonstrator International Collaboration

Officially unveiled on March 4th, just prior to the Heli-Expo 2013 in Las Vegas, USA, the revolutionary AgustaWestland “Project Zero” all-electric tiltrotor technology demonstrator is the result of close collaborations with Finmeccanica companies - Selex ES, Ansaldo Breda, and Ansaldo Energia - and partner companies from Italy, U.K., U.S.A. and Japan.

Dr. James Wang, Vice President of Research and Technology at AgustaWestland, said, “Project Zero was a fast-paced, complex project involving partners and suppliers across different time zones. Our partners worked with great enthusiasm under the leadership of AgustaWestland R&T Advanced Concepts Group to bring this revolutionary concept to life. This is the first time multiple subsidiaries in the Finmeccanica Group collaborated with so many innovative companies, outside of traditional aerospace industry, in one advanced demonstrator program."

Stile Bertone of Italy worked closely with AgustaWestland in developing the aesthetically pleasing styling and aerodynamically unique tiltrotor configuration. To maximize strength and minimize weight, the entire aircraft exterior surface is carbon graphite and it was produced by Lola Composite in the UK. Sistemi Dinamici is a high tech engineering company jointly owned by AgustaWestland and IDS of Pisa, Italy. Sistemi Dinamici was instrumental to "Project Zero" by working closely with the AgustaWestland Advanced Concept Group on Flight Control System and Rotor design. The technologies developed by each partner are being fed into their various industrial sectors to bring value to each company. Selex ES contributed with the High-Integrity Flight Control Computer and Actuator Control Unit using software provided by Wind River. Ansaldo Breda drew on their vast expertise in designing and building high-speed electric trains to custom produce the electric motor inverter and motor control algorithm. Ansaldo Energia specializes in manufacturing megawatts power generators has provided valuable expertise on the alternative hybrid electric-diesel solution.

Other partners and suppliers around the world that have contributed to “Project Zero” include Lucchi R. Elettromeccanica, a Rimini-based motor company, custom designed and built the axial flux permanent magnet electric motors. The aerodynamic properties of the rotor blades were designed by AgustaWestland and Rotor Systems Research LLC of USA. The composite structure for the blades, shrouds and spokes were designed by the Advanced Concepts Group and AgustaWestland Japan Asia Technology Center, then manufactured by UCHIDA in Japan. The high bandwidth electromechanical actuators (EMA) for the innovative swashplateless individual blade control system were specifically developed by Microtecnica for “Project Zero”. The entire aircraft uses no hydraulics; the retractable landing gear, nacelle tilting mechanism, and elevons are controlled by EMA. ORAL Engineering developed an efficient diesel engine for the alternative electric-hybrid propulsion solution and provided rapid CNC machining for the rotor and drive system. MB Motorsport, Aerosviluppi and Marc’Ingegno customized the special motor cooling system, wiring harness and retractable landing gears, respectively. The "Project Zero" technology demonstrator was designed, built and tested in twelve months.


Source: AgustaWestland News - 21 March 2013

Photo: The Italian AgustaWestland AW1038 Project Zero All-Electric Tilt Rotor Technology Demonstrator International Collaboration (Photo by agustawestland.com)


(21.03.2013)


 
EMPTY
EMPTY
Italy AF
Scheme
EMPTY
 

 
  CONTINENTAL NEWS:

American Air Force News
African Air Force News
Asian Air Force News
European Air Force News
Middle Eastern AF News
Ocean Air Force News


• Initial two P-72Bs delivered to Italy’s Guardia di Finanza

(30.01.2020)
The first two of four P-72Bs ordered by Italy’s Guardia di Finanza (GdF, Financial Guard) were handed over during an official ceremony at Leonardo’s Caselle Torinese facility on No...>>

• The Aermacchi M-345: market ready

(13.02.2019)
Thanks to over 60 years of experience in the design and production of aircraft and integrated training systems, Leonardo is now ready to introduce the Aermacchi M-345....>>

• Alenia Aermacchi M-346 and C-27J At International Training Conference

(22.05.2013)
Alenia Aermacchi Will Showcase Its M-346 Simulator and C-27J Aircraft At International Training Conference - News release from Alenia:...>>

• Italian Army takes delivery of first NH90 TTH helicopter in FOC configuration

(3.05.2013)
AgustaWestland is pleased to announce that the first NH90 TTH in FOC (Final Operational Capability) configuration for the Italian Army has been delivered during an official ceremon...>>

• Alenia Aermacchi celebrates 100th anniversary

(30.04.2013)
May 1, 2013, Alenia Aermacchi turned 100 years old....>>

• AgustaWestland Unveils the AW169 AAS

(10.04.2013)
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, has officially unveiled the latest generation AW169 AAS military helicopter during a dedicated ceremony held at the Army Aviation Associatio...>>

 




       info@xairforces.net Webmaster: REFLX DESIGN - © 2011 xairforces / Aviation Society,