The Australian Ultra-efficient Regional Aviation - Electric) Sub-scale Flight Demonstrator

The AURAe project will design, build, and test a sub-scale uncrewed flight demonstrator that showcases innovative aerodynamic circulation control technology suitable for an all-electric air cargo aircraft. The circulation control is a novel implementation of active surface blowing over the wing flaps. This enables temporary ultra-high lift at takeoff and landing without extra propulsion, yet also allows extreme efficiency for the rest of the flight due to high aspect ratio wings that are now optimised for cruise rather than sized for takeoff.
The demonstrator serves as a precursor to a following full-scale commercial drone capable of range and payloads that are currently considered (far) out of reach for battery-electric fixed wing drones. The project also incorporates existing and near-future Australian innovation in multiple areas such as high efficiency propulsion and lightweight construction. AURAe is designed to achieve up to 800 km range on a single charge while also being capable of short takeoff and landing (STOL) from unprepared airstrips no longer than a cricket field. Both these normally-conflicting factors are key unlocks to establishing economically viable distribution of non-trivial air cargo mass from Australia’s regional centres to remote and very remote towns and communities (up to 300kg payload for the eventual full scale product). The AURAe demonstrator will break world records for electric flight efficiency. It will complete a series of demonstration flights loosely emulating logistics service in remote and very remote Queensland. Moreover, it will serve as a high-profile international showcase for Australia’s emerging aviation technologies as being at the forefront of the global electrification revolution.