AeroVironment Inc. has developed a 40-plus kilowatt, ironless-core electric motor prototype as part of Lockheed Martin’s high altitude airship (HAA) development contract with the Department of Defense Missile Defense Agency (MDA). The HAA requires a motor that generates a large torque, coupled with the capability to operate at very high part-load efficiency. This motor is said to exhibit the highest torque-to-weight ratio of any motor of its kind. AeroVironment designed, fabricated, and tested the prototype motor in six months, thereby demonstrating its ability to meet the HAA's demanding performance requirements.
This prototype motor implements ironless-core technology at a larger scale than is currently available. AeroVironment's contributions to the HAA program include the propulsion, motor-control electronics, propellers and propeller-pitch controls.
This breakthrough development in ironless core motors represents the third generation of motor technology originally used on AeroVironment’s Helios high-altitude long endurance unmanned aerial vehicles. This efficient motor technology is applicable to a wide variety of products and industries, including electric and hybrid vehicles, electric airplanes, small wind turbines and deep space.
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