Live Chat Roundup: May 6, 2010

By Jim Gerard, INSPIRE Education Specialist, KSC, FL

Are you ready for a flying car? This vehicle has been predicted by many as the mode of transportation of the 21st Century, from “The Jetsons” to “Back to the Future”. But is it feasible? Can it work in today’s transportation infrastructure?

Mark Moore, an aerospace engineer from Langley Research Center, Va., seems to think so. He was our guest on last night’s Live Chat, where the 32 students who logged in were brought up to speed on the technology currently being developed to make this happen. The goal is to increase the viable traveling distance for a typical commute to workplace by 4X, with a magnitude (10x) increase in safety. Electric powered air vehicles will offer a quieter, cleaner and safer method than today’s small aircraft. Plus a Haptic intelligence (about as smart as a horse) would help keep the pilot from veering off course, and, if the pilot becomes disabled, can find it’s way back to ‘the barn’.

We had so many great questions we did not have enough time to finish them. Below are some ‘bonus questions’ that Mr. Moore answered after the chat. And remember, the full chat can be found under the Chat Archive link on the OLC Home Page.

Next week: The final launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis. Speaking to us will be Sarah Schilling a Vehicle Processing Engineer who knows Atlantis well. She’ll talk a little of Atlantis’ storied career, as well as what it takes to make her fly. Next Thursday, May 13, at 8:00PM CT! Be there!



Vanessa M. asks: A person must first get a license through the Federal Aviation Administration, and also have certain amount of flying hours. If driving a car must take a lot of responsibly and even certain number of driver's ed classes (and counting that it is the most common way of transportation), how efficient will the process be in determining who is eligible to safely conduce a PAV?

Mark Moore answers: Actually you can fly an Ultralight aircraft without any FAA licensing (for either the pilot or vehicle) – so it really depends on the size and speed (and risk) of the vehicle. Light Sport Aircraft have minimal licensing and regulations also. I foresee the potential to make flying as easy as driving a car, through such technologies as the Haptic control system. This system doesn’t take away the driver’s ability to provide ‘intent’ like in an automobile, but it would take out the complexity of 3D flight, while keeping the pilot in the loop.

Joshua B. asks: Who was the inventor of the Puffin? And what does the age have to be to fly the Puffin? And thank-you for the presentation! It was great.

Mark Moore answers: I am, but with the help of many talented and bright individuals from MIT, Georgia Tech, the National Institute of Aerospace, and Mdot Aerospace. The Puffin only exists right now as a 1/3-size demonstrator, as we test transition characteristics for flight from hover to forward flight and back to hover. Once regulations are in place for such aircraft as the Puffin to fly, I would imagine that it would be similar to sailplanes and small aircraft, which is 14 and 16 years old.

Joshua S. asks: will there be police to watch the people driving because when ever a new vehicle comes out or even with older ones whether it is a car truck atv or even a plane there is all ways going to be people that will see how fast they can go or what kind of tricks they can do and with personal air vehicles the can put them selves others in extreme danger so what do you all plan on doing to prevent this

Mark Moore answers: The nice thing about these aircraft is that all the control is digital (along with the airspace data) – so ‘police’ could monitor the skies by watching the data from each aircraft (as every aircraft would constantly be sending it’s position from a transponder (as most aircraft do already, but to a much greater degree in order to predict any potential cross-overs for collision avoidance). Built into the flight control system would be ‘limitations’ that restrict certain behavior from the pilot, with the amount of restrictions depending on how comfortable we become with the vehicle autonomy. These restrictions would prevent controlled flight into the terrain, and other obvious operator error. But speeding would no longer be a problem – you could go as fast as your aircraft permitted! (With speed separation based on the altitude that you’re flying)


Caitlin G. asks: Was the marine AV8B aircraft part of the inspiration for creating a PAV?

Mark Moore answers: Actually it goes back even further to an aircraft called the “Flying Flapjack” or V-173 and XF5-U that were developed by a man named Zimmerman (back in the 1950’s at NASA). It also was a ‘Tailsitter’ aircraft developed to takeoff and land vertically (and with a very similar configuration as the Puffin). But it was mechanically complex, with gearboxes all over the place (which adds weight and decreases reliability). The really cool thing about the Puffin powertrain (motor system) is that it is completely redundant – so up to any 4 parts of either engine system can fail, and the engine can still produce full power. The AV8-B is the only operational powered-lift aircraft (the V-22 is a rotorcraft), and if you’ve ever seen it (I mean heard it) – it is a screaming banshee. The Puffin is 10x quieter than the quietest helicopter, so it could takeoff and land close to residences and businesses without causing any disturbance.