Innovation

The world's first flying car, unveiled this week by Massachusetts-based Terrafugia, is getting its lift with a design optimization assist from Pittsburgh-based ANSYS.

Terrafugia used ANSYS engineering simulation software to design and verify the production prototype of a car aircraft that can fly as well as drive on the highway. The craft was unveiled at the EAA AirVenture airshow; the company expects to begin manufacturing the vehicles commercially in 2011.

This ain't no Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The vehicle's sleek features make it aerodynamic in the air with maximum stability on the road. It can cruise up to 490 miles at more than 105 miles per hour, drive at highway speeds on the road and switch from a plane into a car in less than 30 seconds. Picture foldable wings that span more than 26 feet, a rear-wheel drive system for the road and a propeller for flight. A successful 60-second test flight was completed in March of 2009.

"The dual challenges of driving and flying present significant challenges for aeronautical engineers," said Greg Stuckert, aerospace industry manager at ANSYS in a statement. "Terrafugia's use of (ANSYS) engineering simulation to fine-tune designs throughout the development process — not just at the end for verification — contributed to an optimized historic vehicle and an efficient product launch."

Terrafugia, pronounced ter-ra-FOO-gee-ah, was founded as a startup by five pilots who graduated from MIT. With the support of a world-class group of advisors, the company is on a mission to innovate the expansion of personal mobility.

Writer: Deb Smit
Source: Greg Stuckert and Fran Hensler, ANSYS

Image courtesy of Ansys


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