Otto Aviation Picks VOLTA as its MDO Framework for its Aircraft

Otto Aviation, a California-based startup that recently emerged with its Celera 500L, has selected ESTECO's VOLTA as its digital engineering framework for multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO) and simulation process data management (SPDM).

The Otto Aviation Celera 500L is the most fuel-efficient passenger aircraft in the world. Flight tests of the prototype aircraft substantiate fuel economy of 18 to 25 mpg and cruise speeds of 450 mph. The reduction in fuel consumption makes the Celera 500L an environmentally friendly airplane in its class.

“Multidisciplinary design optimization of this aircraft is essential to its performance,” says David Bogue, chief technology officer at Otto Aviation. “We need a tool that improves team collaboration and gets the job done faster. VOLTA’s server-based framework allows team members to alter optimizations on a real-time basis and deliver the best overall performance.”

“Our goal in evaluating the VOLTA framework set out to improve the high-lift system of the aircraft,” says Travis Fousek, senior aeronautical systems engineer. “Not only have the VOLTA optimization results shown marked performance gains, but the framework has allowed faster design cycles and increased collaboration between structures, flight controls and aerodynamics disciplines, all due to the rich visualization, exploration, and workflow toolsets.”

“We are proud to partner with Otto Aviation to bring their vision of a laminar flow aircraft to reality,” says Roel Van De Velde, director A&D for ESTECO. “Just like Otto Aviation, ESTECO has a strong pioneering spirit; VOLTA is an industry-first framework for server-based optimization and collaboration, and more and more aerospace companies are selecting us to modernize their MDO infrastructure. We are very excited that Otto Aviation has chosen us as well, and we are looking forward to support the development of this groundbreaking aircraft with our best-in-class technology.”

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.

More ESTECO Coverage