The FEVARI collaborative project (LuFo VI-3 Aviation Research Program) focuses on the development of a hybrid-electric propulsion system for a UAV in the 200-kg weight class. The goal is to significantly increase the aircraft’s efficiency while simultaneously improving its acoustics by combining a high-performance hybrid powertrain with a variable main rotor. Based on performance requirements and mission profiles, a suitable system architecture will be selected to serve as the foundation for the design of the entire propulsion system.
As the project progresses, the focus will be on aerodynamic and aeroacoustic optimizations of the rotor. CFD simulations are used to analyze steady-state and transient flight conditions, with particular attention to rotational speed variation, vibration behavior, and tip geometry in order to reduce both energy consumption and noise emissions. In parallel, a battery test bench is being developed to validate the design of the cells and modules and to further refine the simulation models.
The findings are intended to serve as the basis for future commercial products in the field of hybrid-electric aircraft. FEVARI thus addresses both technological and economic goals: on the one hand, advancing the state of the art in hybrid-electric UAV propulsion systems, and on the other, preparing for industrial application, particularly in the growing market segment of high-performance drone propulsion systems.
