January 30, 2023: Imon Chakraborty

January 30, 2023
9:15 a.m.
Room: 310 Kelly Hall
Imon Chakraborty, Auburn University 
Faculty Host: Dr. Ella Atkins

"A Research & Development Pipeline for Novel Aircraft and Propulsion Architectures"

Abstract:  At present, there is substantial activity directed at research, development, and flight testing of novel vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) or short takeoff and landing (STOL) aircraft with distributed electric propulsion (DEP) and electrified propulsion systems. These novel aircraft and propulsion architectures pose challenges for legacy aircraft sizing and performance analysis tools. Due to their unconventional configurations, the stability and control characteristics of these concepts need to be analyzed earlier in their design. Despite having complex configurations and flight characteristics, these vehicles must be designed for simplified vehicle operations (SVO) to reduce the training requirements, time, and cost for pilots. This talk describes a research and development “pipeline” aimed at addressing these research needs for novel aircraft and propulsion systems, starting with sizing and optimization, followed by stability and control analysis, flight control law development, and finally piloted flight simulations to assess handling qualities. The underlying themes are a generality of approach and modularity of tools to allow applicability to a broader configuration and architectural design space.

Bio:  Dr. Imon Chakraborty is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Auburn University in Auburn, AL, USA and Director of the Vehicle Systems, Dynamics, and Design Laboratory (VSDDL, www.vsddl.com). His research focuses on sizing, optimization, flight mechanics, control, and flight simulation of flight vehicles, with a focus on novel air vehicle and propulsion system architectures. He received his doctoral and master’s degrees from the School of Aerospace Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, GA and his bachelor’s degree from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli in Tiruchirappalli, India. He is an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), a member of the AIAA Aircraft Design and Modeling & Simulation Technologies technical committees, and a private pilot.