Master’s student creating jet-smooth helicopter rides

(Ottawa, March 11, 2009) – You might call Carleton engineering student Kostyantyn Khomutov a whirling wizard.

Khomutov is using his master’s degree in aerospace and mechanical engineering at Carleton to test and launch a new system that will drastically reduce vibration and noise on helicopter blades and wind turbines.

“This innovative, first-of-its-kind technology will enable a jet-smooth ride for helicopter passengers and crews by increasing speed in level flight while decreasing maintenance costs and associated health risks for pilots and crew,” says Khomutov.

“For wind turbines, the system can also reduce large maintenance costs which are growing exponentially as wind turbine rotors become larger in size and will enable the installation of these turbines in closer proximity to populated areas than is currently permitted.”

Although Khomutov says the system, which is called Active Pitch Link, has been already manufactured and successfully tested, under centrifugal loading, more development is required in refining the product and flight testing it. He said the final helicopter product should be ready within three-four years and faster for the wind turbine market.

Khomutov is using the $100,000 prize money from his 2008 Martin Walmsley Fellowship from the Ontario Centres of Excellence, to create a new start-up company, Smart Rotor Systems (SRS) to commercialize the product.

“I really appreciate the help I received from Carleton’s Rotorcraft Group and professors Daniel Feszty and Fred Nitzsche who were already working on the concept of reduction of noise and vibration in helicopters,” says Khomutov.

The Rotorcroft group was developing a Hybrid Control System that incorporates three different control systems on one blade. “This idea is unique and nobody else had attempted this so far except Carleton University,” says Khomutov.  The Active Pitch Link is one of these systems.

Khomutov credits the great team work and support of other Rotorcraft group members with his research. “The combination of great minds and strong group organization were the biggest aids in developing the new successful concept.”

He also acknowledges the help he has had from Carleton’s machine shops in his department as well as the Science and Technology Center (STC) – a machine shop specializing in high tech machining. “Not only have these shops manufactured the very precise parts needed, but they had also provided us with very valuable suggestions and required corrections in the design of particular parts.”

The Manotick resident recently spent four months on an exchange program at the Technical University of Munich where he acquired unique skills from the top German university in this field.

“I am delighted to be working on this kind of product that could make a real difference in the lives of so many people,” says Khomutov.