Supernal and UmbraGroup announced this week at the Paris Airshow a continued collaboration to leverage innovative technology that will enhance flight control operations in eVTOL aircraft, reports a press release. Italy-based UmbraGroup is to supply actuators and motor control electronics needed to deploy a safe system for Supernal’s future aircraft, which the Company plans to launch in 2028 for commercial flights.
The partnership “aims to create new actuation standards, both for rotary and linear applications, that will deliver for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) manufacturers,” explains the release, “which are concerned about size, weight, power, reliability and, most importantly, safety.”
Traditional rotary actuators employ a gearbox connected to a power source that then operates an aircraft’s flight control surface. UmbraGroup’s new line of actuators “eliminates the use of the gearbox, making its product smaller, lighter and more efficient.”
(Graphic image: Supernal)
It goes on, “Based on ball screws, this assembly can last beyond 20 years in commercial aircrafts and is ideally suited for the AAM market where vehicles are often characterised by thin wings and limited component space.”
Adam Slepian, Chief Commercial Officer of Supernal, remarked, “Supernal’s approach is to drive innovation, not only at the aircraft level, but also at the system level.” He continued, “UmbraGroup’s actuation solutions will help us optimise our eVTOL vehicle design for maximum reliability in daily operations and enable Advanced Air Mobility to reach the same levels of safety as the commercial aviation industry.”
UmbraGroup offers a new solution for eVTOL aircraft vis its capabilities in developing linear jam-tolerant actuators, that have a mechanism which can resolve a failure within an actuator. This partnership celebrates the first time this type of technology is to be integrated with electro-mechanical actuators (EMA), making them appropriate for primary and critical flight-control surfaces.
Matteo Notarangelo, CEO of UmbraGroup, commented, “Being a supplier of advanced technologies for Supernal and the Hyundai Group is an honour. To be selected for the electromechanical implementation on such a revolutionary platform elevates us among the leading players in Advanced Air Mobility.”
“The partnership,” states the release, “is part of Supernal’s vision to work with reputable suppliers that have a history of building aerospace-grade components, enabling the Company to design safe, reliable and redundant systems for its aircraft.” Supernal and UmbraGroup held a signing ceremony for the partnership at the Paris Air Show this week (June 21st).
UmbraGroup Head Office
Background
Founded in 1972, UmbraGroup is a leading manufacturer of ball screws in the aerospace sector providing innovative, certified and safe solutions for high-tech markets.
With plants in Italy, Germany and the U.S, and a workforce of 1,200, the Group serves aircraft and aircraft manufacturers, integrated system manufacturers, airlines, and machine tool manufacturers worldwide.
In 2022, UmbraGroup’s actuator technology for rotary actuators earned the Airbus Helicopter Supplier Innovation Award.
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