Unmanned Aerial Systems Propulsion Test Facility

Determining innovative methods for improving small piston and gas turbine engine performance and operability for reliable operation over a wide range of flight conditions.

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Unmanned aerial systems are challenged by a continually increasing variety of applications with wide-ranging flight conditions and mission requirements. Thus, there is a critical need to develop small engine technologies for robust operability and versatility to adapt to emerging needs without sacrificing overall engine performance.  The long-term goals of our research group are to determine effective methods to improve operability over an expanded range of conditions and to develop versatile cycle technologies to meet diverse propulsion and power demands.

    

This modular test cell allows quick re-configuration for a variety test stand requirements for small piston and gas turbine engines.  The facility is used for basic and applied research, as well as to support OSU SpeedFest engine-airframe experiments and MAE 4243 classroom laboratories with the SR-30 Minilab.  The Altitude Engine Test Stand facilitates simulation of in-flight engine starting over a range of Mach numbers up to 0.7 and altitudes up to 15,000 feet.