Abstract This paper presents the state of art in electric aircraft propulsion systems. The necessary reduction greenhouse gas emissions on global scale forces aviation engineers to search for ‘green’ solutions. Electric is a potential and relatively intuitive choice flight operations. showcases four architectures systems being now considered utilise advantages with commercially profitable opera...

The configuration of a marine propulsion system is selected with regard to the maximum power resulting from its maximum design speed and displacement. The propulsion systems of high speed vessels use three or even four propellers, and each propulsion unit may be multi-engine. High speed vessels are designed for maximum speeds, but their factual exploitation speed parameters are usually consider...

Distributed propulsion and lightweight structures on transport aircraft pose a significant opportunity to meet next generation aircraft requirements including reduced fuel burn/emissions and enhanced takeoff/landing performance. The objective of this research is to conduct multidisciplinary design analysis and optimization to demonstrate a novel concept of flexible wing shaping aircraft using d...

Wheelchair propulsion has been reported to be responsible for musculoskeletal pain in the upper extremities. Epidemiological studies have shown a high prevalence of shoulder complaints in paraplegic and quadriplegic spinal cord injured (SCI) people. It has been argued that the high incidence of shoulder complaints in SCI was the result of the weight‐bearing or propuls...

This study describes a new simulator that provides haptic biofeedback to help manual wheelchair users gain a more effective propulsion pattern. Propulsion effectiveness is measured using the mechanical effective force (MEF). The simulator implements a dynamic model that replicates overground propulsion conditions. Haptic biofeedback increases the feeling of rolling resistance if the user’s MEF ...

Miniature and energy efficient propulsion systems hold the key to maturing the technology of swimming microrobots. In this paper, two new methods of propulsion inspired by the motility mechanism of prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms are proposed. Hydrodynamic models for each of the two methods are developed and the optimized design paramteres for each of the two propulsion modes are demo...

This study analyzed the effect of rear-wheel position on seating comfort and mobility efficiency. Twelve randomly selected paraplegic wheelchair users participated in the study. Wheelchairs were tested in two rear-wheel positions while the users operated the wheelchair on a treadmill and while they worked on a computer. Propulsion efficiency, seating comfort, and propulsion qualities were regis...

NASA’s Hyper-X Research Vehicle will provide a unique opportunity to obtain data on an operational airframe integrated scramjet propulsion system at true flight conditions. The airframe integrated nature of the scramjet engine with the Hyper-X vehicle results in a strong coupling effect between the propulsion system operation and the airframe’s basic aerodynamic characteristics. Comments on gen...

Marangoni propulsion is a form of locomotion wherein an asymmetric release of surfactant by a body located at the surface of a liquid leads to its directed motion. We present in this paper a mathematical model for Marangoni propulsion in the viscous regime. We consider the case of a thin rigid circular disk placed at the surface of a viscous fluid and whose perimeter has a prescribed concentrat...