The ATI Programme is a major UK funding initiative, partnering the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI), Department for Business and Trade, and Innovate UK to invest in civil aerospace R&D. It funds sustainable, competitive technologies, with over £3.7 billion invested in more than 467 projects projects to drive decarbonisation.
CSA Catapult, working alongside consortium partners Airbus, Evolito, DePe Gear, DSD, Magnomatics, the University of Southampton and Denchi will deliver the advanced power electronics and semiconductor integration that underpin the system’s performance and efficiency.
Electric wheel taxiing allows aircraft to move on the ground using electric motors rather than main engines, reducing fuel burn, emissions, noise and brake wear during taxi operations, advancing sustainable, ultraefficient aircraft operations, helping pave the way for a future where electric ground operations become standard, reducing emissions, improving efficiency and strengthening the UK’s position as a global leader in next generation aerospace electrification.
“This is government and business collaboration in action to keep the UK at the forefront of innovation in our world-class aerospace sector, and I look forward to seeing how Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult’s project can cut emissions and transform airport taxiing for the long term” said Industry Minister Chris McDonald. “We’re boosting our support for the aerospace industry through our Modern Industrial Strategy – giving business the confidence it needs to invest in UK advanced manufacturing and sustainable aviation.”
CSA Catapult’s role is to provide the control, power conversion and monitoring required to drive the wheel actuator motors. This includes the design, build and validation of the key power electronic converters that make electric taxiing possible.
“We are enormously proud to be a key enabler of project Sonata through our development of custom silicon carbide power modules for aerospace applications” added Caroline O’Brien, Chief Executive of CSA Catapult. “This project combines our advanced R&D expertise, and our unique position in the semiconductor supply chain as the organisation that unlocks the wider ecosystem.”
The technology brought to the project by CSA Catapult allows efficient power converters to be integrated into the space-constrained landing gear bay, while maintaining reliability under vibration, shock, and thermal cycling.
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