{"id":11982,"date":"2018-12-01T00:25:22","date_gmt":"2018-12-01T07:25:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/?p=11982"},"modified":"2018-12-01T00:25:22","modified_gmt":"2018-12-01T07:25:22","slug":"david-ullman-receives-patent-on-ideal-airplane","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/david-ullman-receives-patent-on-ideal-airplane\/","title":{"rendered":"David Ullman Receives Patent on IDEAL Airplane"},"content":{"rendered":"

David Ullman a Professor Emeritus at Oregon State University, has used his expertise in mechanical engineering to design his IDEAL airplane.\u00a0 That stands for Integrated Distributed Electric-Augmented Lift, and like all good projects with good acronyms, almost explains itself.\u00a0 Recently, the U. S Patent office thought the IDEAL is worthy of being patented.<\/p>\n

It might be helpful to read the full patent,<\/a> filed with working partner and neighbor Vincent Homer, because the ideal looks simple, but has years of development behind it.\u00a0 The two live in Independence, Oregon, on an airport that includes hangars on every house and taxiways linking them to the main runway.\u00a0 Both their hangars are filled with evidence of their skilled handiwork.\u00a0 Vincent’s houses giant models and evidence of aeronautical investigations.\u00a0 David’s shelters a very large wind tunnel, used to help verify his computations about blowing air over the wing and augmenting the lift while providing thrust.\u00a0 On one wall hangs the twisted wing strut that defines the sad shape of the Jabiru four-seater David rolled into his shop two years ago.\u00a0 Now rebuilt with David\u2019s abilities for working with composites, the compound curves display a deep knowledge of topology.<\/p>\n

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Dave Ullman’s wind tunnel in his Independence, Oregon hangar. Bikes on wall were results of design class he taught at OSU<\/p><\/div>\n

David and Vince presented at every major scholarly aeronautical event in the last year, upholding the idea of a winged Ultra-Short Take Off and Landing (USTOL) aircraft against a cloud of Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL) craft.\u00a0 The eVTOL News\u2122\u00a0reports<\/a> there are over 125 different electric and hybrid VTOL designs, with heavy backing from organizations such as Uber.<\/p>\n

IDEAL\u2019s comparison of air-taxi visions uses a \u201csimple analytical model to estimate range based on type of vehicle, battery characteristics and number of passengers.\u201d David and Vince hang out some controversial words based on their findings.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. \u201cElectric rotor-craft such as the eHang 184 and the VoloCopter 2X have very limited range even with next-gen batteries.<\/li>\n
  2. \u201cVTOL aircraft need to be very large to be effective (UBER is focused on 5000lb machines). Further, the high power needed, as with the rotor-craft, imply inefficiencies that may not be overcome with any foreseeable batteries and sound levels that may be unacceptable.<\/li>\n
  3. \u201cUSTOL aircraft have high potential. They are perhaps the least developed of the three classes considered but can operate on near future batteries and very small \u201cpocket\u201d airports.<\/li>\n
  4. \u201cClearly the use of batteries for air taxis is problematic. Even next-gen batteries are limiting. Other forms of energy storage need to be explored and developed.<\/li>\n
  5. \u201cIt is possible to use a fairly simple model to compare and contrast different classes of air vehicles without getting caught up in the details.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    \"\"<\/a>

    What Jsabiru will look like in first iteration. Later revisions will include high-aspect ratio wing<\/p><\/div>\n

    David and Vince are not hiding their light under a bushel, but rather share their expertise openly.\u00a0 One benefit of going to David\u2019s web site is the opportunity to request the formulas he and Vince used to derive their ideas.\u00a0 This \u201copen source\u201d approach will only help to get more researchers on board and to make such experimentation more widespread.<\/p>\n

    As we can probably surmise, neither the eVTOL nor the USTOL will work in all circumstances.\u00a0 There are places where the best bushplane can\u2019t safely land, or even worse, take off.\u00a0 There are limitations to what eVTOLs offer with current batteries regarding range and payload.\u00a0 Only relentless testing and experience operating all types of these new craft will prove what is possible \u2013 and supportable.<\/p>\n

    In the meantime, check out David Ullman\u2019s site and read the patent and the ideas behind the IDEAL.<\/p>\n

    For Your Reading Pleasure<\/h4>\n

    David is the author of several books, all worthy of your time.\u00a0 The Mechanical Design Process<\/a>,<\/em> now in its sixth edition, is a basic text in design. “Beyond its title,\u00a0The Mechanical Design Process\u00a0is a book for all product designers.\u00a0 It provides students with a holistic, systematic view of how to discover their customers\u2019 needs and see them through to on-time, cost effective, quality products.”<\/p>\n

    The Mechanical Design Process: Case Studies<\/em><\/a> shows how the principles in the text have been applied in real-life circumstances.<\/p>\n

    David collaborated with 24 of his students to produce\u00a0What\u00a0Will Your Grandchildren See\u00a0When They Look Up?<\/em><\/a>\u00a0 The book provides visions of future aircraft, defined by solid engineering and imaginative leaps.<\/p>\n

    Living up to his reputation as a decision architect, his book Making Robust Decisons<\/em><\/a>, can guide individuals or groups through the intricacies of making valid decisions that lead to productive outputs.<\/p>\n

    David’s body of work keeps growing and will soon include his IDEAL airplane.<\/p>\n