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Research Aircraft for eVTOL Enabling techNologies
(RAVEN)

An enduring, open-source flight research capability

WHAT IS RAVEN?

NASA is collaborating with Georgia Tech to design, build and fly a 1000 lb.-class unmanned research aircraft for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) at modest cost and in a relevant timeline. This aircraft will enable researchers and industry partners to obtain and publish unique flight test data at a relevant scale, provide a platform to develop practical methods for AAM vehicle design and operation, and train the next generation of aerospace engineers.

WHY RAVEN?

  • Provides open flight data that is publicly available to accelerate the emerging AAM market
  • Addresses “real world” issues in EVTOL design and development for AAM through relevant scale 
  • Allows larger research payloads (e.g., avionics, sensors, flight computers) through adequate size
  • Presents configuration representative of industry eVTOLs, with relevant challenges in aerodynamics, propulsion integration, acoustics, and flight control
  • Offers “fast to flight” at modest cost by leveraging off-the-shelf airframe and components
  • Serves as more than just a flight demonstrator: a “flying laboratory” for enduring research and technology development

“NASA engineers and technicians are contributing to the development of noise and safety standards for advanced air mobility aircraft, but the agency is having to do this work with limited knowledge about the coming designs, given how closely companies are guarding their innovations in this fiercely competitive market. “

–Aerospace America

PUBLICATIONS

– 2024 –

Overview of the Subscale RAVEN Flight Controls Testbed
Geuther, S. C., Simmons, B. M., and Ackerman, K. A.
VFS Forum 80, Vertical Flight Society, 7-9 May 2024, Montreal, Canada
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20240004190 (Paper)
RAVEN-SWFT OpenVSP Model (OpenVSP model)

Inexpensive Multirotor Platform for Advanced Controls Testing (IMPACT): Development, Integration, and Experimentation
Asper, G. D., Simmons, B. M., Axten, R. M., Ackerman, K.A., and Corrigan, P.E.
NASA Technical Memorandum 20240000223, 01 Mar 2024, NASA Langley Research Center
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20240000223 (Technical Memorandum)

Statistical Wind-Tunnel Experimentation Advancements for eVTOL Aircraft Aero-Propulsive Model Development
Simmons, B. M. and Busan, R. C.
AIAA SciTech Forum, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 8–12 January 2024, Orlando, FL
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20230016927 (paper)
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20230018625 (presentation and videos)

– 2023 –

Towards Gradient-Based Proprotor Design with VSPAERO
Ingraham, D.
NASA Acoustics Technical Working Group, 31 Oct – 01 Nov 2023, NASA Glenn Research Center
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20230014198 (presentation)

Design and Programmatic Overview of the Research Aircraft for eVTOL Enabling techNologies (RAVEN) Activity
German, B. J., Jha, A., Whiteside, S. K. S., and Welstead, J. R.
AIAA Aviation Forum, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 12-16 June 2023, San Diego, CA
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20230006253 (paper)

Validation of a Mid-Fidelity Approach for Aircraft Stability and Control Characterization
Simmons, B. M., Geuther, S. C., and Ahuja, V.
AIAA Aviation Forum, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 12-16 June 2023, San Diego, CA and online
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20230006813 (paper)
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20230007142 (presentation)

Broadband Predictions of Optimized Proprotors in Axial Forward Flight
Blake, J. D., Thurman, C. S., Zawodny, N. S., and Lopes, L. V.
AIAA Aviation Forum, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 12-16 June 2023, San Diego, CA
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20230006072 (paper)
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20230006442 (presentation)

Influence of the Perception, Observer Position, and Broadband Self-Noise on Low-Fidelity UAM Vehicle Perception-Influenced-Design (PID) Optimization
Lopes, L. V. and Ingraham, D. J.
VFS Forum 79, Vertical Flight Society, 16-18 May 2023, West Palm Beach, FL
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20230004003 (paper)
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20230006823 (presentation)

Design and Development of an Aircraft Electric Powertrain Test Stand
Jha, A., Puligundla, V., Paravano, J., and German, B.
AIAA SciTech Forum, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 23-27 Jan 2023, National Harbor, MD & Online
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20230003539 (paper)

– 2022 –

Status of UAM Proprotor Design Validation Campaign: Available Data and Computational Tools
Lopes, L. V., Ingraham, D. J., and Zawodny, N. S.
NASA Acoustics Technical Working Group, 05 Oct 2022, NASA Glenn Research Center
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20220015053 (presentation)

Rapid Flight Control Law Deployment and Testing Framework for Subscale VTOL Aircraft
Asper, G. D. and Simmons, B. M.
NASA Technical Memorandum 20220011570, 01 Sep 2022, NASA Langley Research Center
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20220011570 (Technical Memorandum)

Efficient Variable-Pitch Propeller Aerodynamic Model Development for Vectored-Thrust eVTOL Aircraft
Simmons, B. M.
AIAA Aviation Forum, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 27 Jun – 1 Jul 2022, Chicago, IL & Virtual
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20220005627 (paper)
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20220006276 (presentation)

– COMING SOON –

Preliminary Aero-Propulsive Models for the RAVEN SWFT eVTOL Aircraft 
Simmons, B. M., et al. 
NASA Technical Memorandum, NASA Langley Research Center 
In preparation 

Aero-Propulsive Damping Characterization for eVTOL Aircraft Using Free Motion Wind-Tunnel Testing 
Simmons, B. M., Ackerman, K. A., and Asper, G. D. 
AIAA SciTech Forum, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 6-10 Jan 2025, Orlando, FL 
To be published 

Exploring Transition Profiles for the RAVEN Multi-Tiltrotor Aircraft 
Huang, T. and German, B. J. 
Transformative Vertical Flight Meeting, Vertical Flight Society, 3-6 Feb 2025, Phoenix, AZ 
To be published 

Subscale Tiltrotor eVTOL Aircraft Dynamic Modeling and Flight Control Software Development 
Simmons, B. M., et al. 
VFS Forum 81, Vertical Flight Society, 20-22 May 2025, Virginia Beach, VA 
Submitted for consideration

 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This activity is or has been supported by:


For partnership opportunities or questions, please reach out to:

Siena Whiteside – siena.k.whiteside@nasa.gov