Santa Barbara-area company develops key, high-power technology for the rising air taxi markets
GOLETA — Top aerospace power generation and propulsion development company, LaunchPoint Electric Propulsion Solutions, Inc., is pleased to announce the commercialization of its highest power controller to date. The highly efficient MC250 is an ultra-lightweight, bi-directional 250 kW power electronics solution capable of controlling permanent magnet motor or generator power. Applications include electric propulsion and power generation for aircraft in defense, commercial aerospace, and advanced air mobility.
The MC250 is ideal to use as a power converter for high-speed motors or alternators. It is a high switching frequency converter based on SiC MOSFETs that enables high commutation frequency electric machines over the range of 690 V DC to 880 V DC maximum bus voltage. Weighing at just 9.0 kg including internal liquid cooling thermal management components, it is ultra-lightweight. It is also compact, measuring 381 mm x 281 mm x 152 mm.
“To date, our technologies have been tailored toward the UAV market, and at power level less than 100 kW, but the 250 kW controller now gets us in the higher power range where we can start moving people and significant cargo for defense and advanced air mobility applications,” said Mike Ricci, LaunchPoint’s Chief Technology Officer. “With this kind of power, you can move significant physical objects large distances and that capability has a massive impact.”
A high speed/high power alternator is currently in development to pair with the MC250 as a full turbo-alternator power generation solution. Near-term plans include options to be fully MIL-STD compliant or FAA DO-160 compliant.
“LaunchPoint was referred to our large customer as the supplier who could take on their 250 kW controller program. This occurred given our established reputation for solving extremely difficult systems engineering challenges in power generation and controls,” said Chris Grieco, LaunchPoint’s Sr. VP of Global Business Development & Sales. “Successfully taking our product line well into the power levels required for the advanced air mobility markets positions our company well as a future volume supplier.”
LaunchPoint’s controllers are advanced electric motor drives, generator controllers and hybrid electric power system management units designed for power generation and fully electric and hybrid electric propulsion applications. Other controller offerings include power levels of 6 kW, 15 kW and 40 kW.