![Ampaire aircraft image](/files/live/sites/vicor/files/images/resources-library/podcasts/Vicor-case-study-ampaire-plane-03-small.jpg?t=767)
Now boarding the flight to the future, flying lower emissions Ampaire hybrid-electric planes
Ampaire is developing hybrid-electric aircraft that will lead the industry to an all-electric future with net-zero emissions and a greener future
Aerospace and defense solutions
Upgrades to a high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) UAV platform challenges design engineers when retrofitting a new, higher-resolution, longer-range radar and improve telemetry. The upgrade effectively doubles the power required on the 28V internal bus to 11kW. On-board power is from two separate power sources for redundancy. The key goals are to double the power without allocating more space for the power supply, keep the aircraft as light as possible for longer flight times, improve reliability and ensure adaptability to power needs in the future.
The small size, low profile and low weight of the Vicor DCM™ DC-DC converter module enabled the design team to meet their goal and double the output power without exceeding allocated space constraints. The high efficiency (96%) reduced the size of the heat sink required, saving more space. Key outcomes were an 11kW solution in the size of a tablet computer weighing only 215g, DCMs easy to parallel for future increased power needs, low waste heat and reduced cooling requirements. Three arrays of three 1.3kW DCM5614 VIA converters were paralleled to provide the regulated 28V bus. Inputs were split between two different generators to provide redundancy of power source. The arrays automatically power shared across all nine converters —though their input voltages differed — helping improve system reliability.
Now boarding the flight to the future, flying lower emissions Ampaire hybrid-electric planes
Ampaire is developing hybrid-electric aircraft that will lead the industry to an all-electric future with net-zero emissions and a greener future
Roundtable: SOSA having an impact on military program requirements, business practices
John Sturm, VP of Aerospace and Defense Business Unit, weighs in on SOSA (Sensor Open Systems Architecture) Technical Standard 1.0 after three years
MOSA Industry and Government
Summit and Expo 2024
The MOSA summit explores the open standard architectures used in designing SOSA-aligned and VITA 62 power supplies
Guest blog: Defense industry embraces the benefits of standardized power supplies
Earlier, serious consideration of the power delivery network can be the advantage you need once you understand the design benefits of power modules.