Honeywell And DENSO Collaborate On Electric Propulsion Systems For Urban Air Mobility

- Collaboration combines world-class technology, design and development capabilities with extensive experience in aerospace and automotive sectors

- Will develop hybrid-electric and fully electric powertrains to enable new markets and drastically improve the future of air travel

News provided by

Honeywell

Jun 10, 2019, 13:00 ET

WASHINGTON, June 10, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Honeywell (NYSE: HON) and DENSO, the world's second largest mobility supplier, are collaborating to propel the future of urban air mobility and other aerospace market segments by combining their expertise to develop hybrid-electric and fully electric powertrains. By leveraging their deep experience in both the aerospace and automotive sectors, Honeywell and DENSO will help make future aircraft cleaner, quieter, more fuel-efficient and easier to maintain.

"The pressure to mitigate the environmental and economic impact of aviation will only grow in the years ahead as air passenger traffic increases and urbanization continues," said Bryan Wood, senior director of Honeywell's hybrid-electric and electric propulsion programs. "Knowing the challenges we face, we're working with DENSO to create a new future for aviation propulsion. Aircraft powered by hybrid-electric and electric architectures have incredible benefits; they're cleaner, quieter, more fuel-efficient, more reliable and easier to maintain."

The two companies will work together to build concepts and technology demonstrations for the design and development of hybrid-electric and all-electric propulsion systems for aerospace applications.

"Our long-term vision is to contribute to the greater society, and we see urban air mobility as one of the main transportation methods in the future of advanced mobility," said Kenichiro Ito, executive officer of DENSO Corporation and CEO of DENSO's North American headquarters. "We believe that collaboration between the automotive and aerospace industries is crucial to achieve high-quality and mass-scale urban air mobility."

Urban air mobility (UAM) is comprised of air vehicles, such as air taxis, with on-demand availability, and is aimed at providing more efficient movement for people within cities to improve safety and decrease ground traffic. Major advancements in materials, generators and motors are making electric-powered flight possible, practical and affordable.

As a pioneer and global leader of electrification technology in the automotive industry, DENSO has decades of experience in developing and producing world-class electrified propulsion units, including traction motors and inverters, at high mass-production volume.

Honeywell has an extensive aviation hardware and software product portfolio, including advanced navigation technologies and fly-by-wire flight controls tailored for the unique needs of UAM aircraft.

Honeywell separately debuted a new hybrid-electric turbogenerator prototype earlier this year. The system combines the rugged, flight-proven HTS900 engine with two compact, 200kw high-power density generators. The system burns conventional or bio-derived jet fuel and can feed motors or high-capacity batteries.

About Honeywell
Honeywell Aerospace products and services are found on virtually every commercial, defense and space aircraft. The Aerospace business unit builds aircraft engines, cockpit and cabin electronics, wireless connectivity systems, mechanical components and more. Its hardware and software solutions create more fuel-efficient aircraft, more direct and on-time flights and safer skies and airports. For more information, visit www.honeywell.com or follow us at @Honeywell_Aero.

Honeywell (www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 technology company that delivers industry specific solutions that include aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings and industry; and performance materials globally. Our technologies help everything from aircraft, buildings, manufacturing plants, supply chains, and workers become more connected to make our world smarter, safer, and more sustainable. For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit www.honeywell.com/newsroom.

SOURCE Honeywell