An Experimental Evaluation of an Electronic Rotor Phase Synchronization System for Multirotor Aircraft Noise Control

Valente, Vítor T; Greenwood, Eric; Johnson, Eric

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An Experimental Evaluation of an Electronic Rotor Phase Synchronization System for Multirotor Aircraft Noise Control

2025-09-01
By Valente, Vítor T ; Greenwood, Eric ; Johnson, Eric

File Language:

English

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Creators:

Valente, Vítor T ; Greenwood, Eric ; Johnson, Eric
Corporate Creators:

United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Aviation Administration. Center of Excellence for Alternative Jet Fuels and Environment ; Pennsylvania State University
Corporate Contributors:

United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Aviation Administration. Office of Environment and Energy
Subject/TRT Terms:

Aircraft Noise ASCENT Aviation Noise Control Rotor Blades Rotors
Publication/ Report Number:

jahs2347
Resource Type:

Journal Article
Geographical Coverage:

United States
Corporate Publisher:

United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Aviation Administration
Abstract:

Multirotor electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles and small unmanned aircraft systems commonly use distributed electric propulsion. One approach to reducing their noise involves synchronizing rotor phase relationships to control radiated noise directionally. This paper presents a practical electronic phase synchronization method for multirotor aircraft, experimentally evaluates its effectiveness using a hexacopter in an anechoic chamber, and investigates how vehicle configuration influences noise control capability. Harmonic noise reductions of 10 dB are demonstrated over a 20◦ azimuthal arc, with limited increases in other directions. Noise amplification of 6 dB is also achieved over the same region. Global reductions of 6 dB across nearly all observer angles are obtained using alternative rotor phase offsets. Statistical analysis of phase controller error indicates that maintaining phase accuracy within 5◦ is necessary for 10 dB attenuation. Simulations across various rotor configurations show consistent noise control performance, with higher rotor counts enabling greater directional control of radiated noise.
Format:

PDF
Funding:

13-C-AJFE-PSU-112
Collection(s):

Federal Aviation Administration
Main Document Checksum:

urn:sha-512:53adb8bd0bcdb612e35dd3c6dfb776b1b367e995421dc2dc4c3931bdceb354ac87588e8cebaa301703d33cadafa4e486ae7a47658715f444bb316daa77657a64
Download URL:

https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/88012/dot_88012_DS1.pdf
File Type:

[PDF - 10.24 MB ]

File Language:

English

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