Design World

  • Home
  • Technologies
    • 3D CAD
    • Electronics • electrical
    • Fastening & Joining
    • Factory automation
    • Linear Motion
    • Motion Control
    • Test & Measurement
    • Sensors
    • Fluid power
  • Learn
    • Ebooks / Tech Tips
    • Engineering Week
    • Future of Design Engineering
    • MC² Motion Control Classrooms
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars
  • LEAP AWARDS
  • Leadership
    • 2022 Voting
    • 2021 Winners
  • Design Guide Library
  • Resources
    • 3D Cad Models
      • PARTsolutions
      • TraceParts
    • Digital Issues
      • Design World
      • EE World
    • Women in Engineering
  • Supplier Listings

Rolls-Royce Seeks to Build World’s Fastest All-Electric Aircraft

By Jennifer DeLaOsa | January 3, 2019

Share

A specialized team recruited by Rolls-Royce is hard at work building an all-electric aircraft set to make history. Although it currently sits in a hangar at Gloucestershire airport in South West England, its destiny is to take to the sky, reaching more than 300 mph.

At this speed, it will become the fastest all-electric plane, beating the record of 210 mph set by Siemens in 2017. The team plans to take the top spot in 2020.

The project is part of a Rolls-Royce initiative known as Accelerating the Electrification of Flight (ACCEL). Its mission is to “pioneer a third wave of aviation in support of Rolls-Royce’s strategy to champion electrification,” according to Rolls-Royce.  

“This plane will be powered by a state-of-the-art electrical system and the most powerful battery ever built for flight. In the year ahead, we’re going to demonstrate its abilities in demanding test environments before going for gold in 2020 from a landing strip on the Welsh coastline,” says ACCEL Project Manager for Rolls-Royce Matheu Parr.

Key Design Components

Battery: Rolls-Royce boasts the “most energy-dense battery pack ever assembled for an aircraft,” which features 6,000 packaged cells and an advanced cooling system. Altogether, it can power 200 miles of flight on a single charge.  

Motors: Electric motor and controller manufacturer YASA will provide three 750R lightweight electric motors that drive the propeller, delivering more than 500 horsepower.

Powertrain: Running at 750 V, the powertrain will have an all-electric design, delivering zero emissions and 90 percent energy efficiency.

Big Data: Every second, an array of sensors will gather vital in-flight stats across 20,000 data points. By measuring information related to general metrics, temperature, and battery voltage, the aircraft will up its safety and performance.

 

 

The Third Wave of Aviation

Rolls-Royce is no stranger to high speeds and competition. The company contributed the “R” engine that helped Britain’s Supermarine S.6B win the Schneider Trophy in 1931, awarded annually to the winner of a race for seaplanes and flying boats. On the day of competition, it achieved 343 mph and established Rolls-Royce’s foray into aerospace.

With that feat under their belt, and the Siemens e-flight within reach, Rolls-Royce will continue their efforts to smash records.  

Partially funded by the U.K. government, the initiative include partners such as aviation start-up Electroflight, YASA, and Formula E design experts.


Filed Under: Aerospace + defense

 

Related Articles Read More >

Ontic acquires Servotek and Westcon product lines from Marsh Bellofram
Flexible rotary shafts support thrust reverser on 150 LEAP 1-A turbofan engines
Drone-mounted inspection breaks barriers for F-35
TriStar, a misunderstood failure of design

DESIGN GUIDE LIBRARY

“motion

Enews Sign Up

Motion Control Classroom

Design World Digital Edition

cover

Browse the most current issue of Design World and back issues in an easy to use high quality format. Clip, share and download with the leading design engineering magazine today.

EDABoard the Forum for Electronics

Top global problem solving EE forum covering Microcontrollers, DSP, Networking, Analog and Digital Design, RF, Power Electronics, PCB Routing and much more

EDABoard: Forum for electronics

Sponsored Content

  • Global supply needs drive increased manufacturing footprint development
  • How to Increase Rotational Capacity for a Retaining Ring
  • Cordis high resolution electronic proportional pressure controls
  • WAGO’s custom designed interface wiring system making industrial applications easier
  • 10 Reasons to Specify Valve Manifolds
  • Case study: How a 3D-printed tool saved thousands of hours and dollars

Design World Podcasts

May 17, 2022
Another view on additive and the aerospace industry
See More >
Engineering Exchange

The Engineering Exchange is a global educational networking community for engineers.

Connect, share, and learn today »

Design World
  • Advertising
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Manage your Design World Subscription
  • Subscribe
  • Design World Digital Network
  • Engineering White Papers
  • LEAP AWARDS

Copyright © 2022 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search Design World

  • Home
  • Technologies
    • 3D CAD
    • Electronics • electrical
    • Fastening & Joining
    • Factory automation
    • Linear Motion
    • Motion Control
    • Test & Measurement
    • Sensors
    • Fluid power
  • Learn
    • Ebooks / Tech Tips
    • Engineering Week
    • Future of Design Engineering
    • MC² Motion Control Classrooms
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars
  • LEAP AWARDS
  • Leadership
    • 2022 Voting
    • 2021 Winners
  • Design Guide Library
  • Resources
    • 3D Cad Models
      • PARTsolutions
      • TraceParts
    • Digital Issues
      • Design World
      • EE World
    • Women in Engineering
  • Supplier Listings