Ground-based tests of a digital displacement hydraulic transmission for distributed propulsion

Abstract

This paper progresses the concept of the Digital Displacement hydrostatic transmission as applied to hybrid multirotor UAVs and other applications of distributed propulsion. A summary of the concept is made and the simulation work done to date is described on the H380 UAV concept. A ground based test facility is described, and results are shown for steady state and transient rotor performance, with validation of the simulation model. Thermal performance is shown. An outlook for development towards flight testing is made.