Configuration Design of an EDF-Driven Personal Flight Suit: Optimizing for Power and Aerodynamic Efficiency

Abstract

This project presents the integrated design and optimization of a personal human wing glider system augmented by electric ducted fan (EDF) propulsion. Using OpenVSP, the full 3D geometry, including a realistic human mesh, fixed-wing structure, and EDF units, is modeled to assess aerodynamic performance. The system is aerodynamically optimized for glide and cruise conditions with a span-efficient wing design that effectively integrates wing and human geometry to maximize lift-to-drag ratio while minimizing induced drag. Flight operation constraints, including stall speed, weight-to-power ratio, and structural limits, are incorporated into a wing loading optimization algorithm to extract feasible design conditions. Propulsion is achieved through a distributed EDF system, with six ducted fans symmetrically positioned along the wingspan. Each EDF is paired with a motor selected through an efficiency-based matching process that considers thrust, RPM, and power requirements across still hover, vertical climb, and cruise conditions. XROTOR simulations inform propeller blade twist, hub sizing, and exit area ratios to optimize thrust production and minimize power draw. The system’s thrust, power, torque, and throttle demands are cross-validated with motor performance curves to ensure high efficiency under all mission segments. The final system achieves efficient low-speed flight with well-defined power and thrust requirements, supporting stable transitions across glide, cruise, hover, and climb, and demonstrating viability for compact, wearable, EDF-assisted personal flight.