eVTOL Testing
Summary
Discover Verivolt's high-performance voltage and current sensors for eVTOL aircraft testing and validation. From power distribution, propulsion to battery performance testing, our wide range of solutions ensures the accuracy and reliability essential for electric vertical take-off and landing systems.
Product in Use
The Challenge:
Voltage and Current Monitoring in VFD Systems
Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) are widely used across various industries to optimize motor performance, enhance energy efficiency, and improve process control. VFDs are commonly found in manufacturing, HVAC systems, water and wastewater treatment, oil and gas, among many others. These applications often involve demanding electrical and environmental conditions, including high currents and voltages required to power motors. Additionally, such environments may expose equipment to high ambient temperatures, electrical noise from switching elements, and mechanical vibrations. Monitoring voltage and current in VFD applications is critical for performance verification, troubleshooting, and preventive maintenance.
Most modern VFDs have embedded sensors that measure current and voltage internally. These internal measurements are primarily used for control logic, protection mechanisms, and sometimes diagnostics. However, there are several good reasons to use independent current and voltage sensors to monitor the motor or load, even if the VFD already has built-in sensing, such as:
Accuracy and Signal Quality
Accurate Power Measurement
Advanced Analysis & Logging
Third-Party Compliance & Certification
Retrofit & Test Bench Applications
How do Verivolt’s Sensors Address these Challenges?
Verivolt sensors used in this application field present the following characteristics.
Recommended Verivolt Sensors for VFD Application
Voltage Measurement
- IsoBlock V-4C: (up to 300 KHz – custom) A 4-channel, differential-input, high-bandwidth isolated voltage suitable for capturing line-to-line voltages with ranges from 2V up to 1500V. The IsoBlock V-4C sensor is ideal to monitor the VFD output phases with up to 0.1% accuracy.
- Isoband V (up to 8 MHz): This sensor offers a unique combination of high-isolation, high voltage measurement and high-bandwidth, making it a perfect choice for measuring fast transients, PWM switching and high-frequency signals with 0.2% accuracy.
Your application requires more than 8MHz bandwidth? Try our high-bandwidth, non isolated sensors:
- Entube DE-HB (up to 20 MHz): A high bandwidth differential voltage sensor
- Entube Z (up to 50 MHz): A compact, single ended voltage sensor with the highest bandwidth
Current Measurement
- IsoBlock I-ZF: An isolated, contactless current sensor that uses a zero-flux technique for measurements with up to 0.01% accuracy. Ideal for monitoring both input and output currents and identifying overcurrent or load imbalance. Available from 50A to 2000A ranges.
- IsoBlock I-ST: Isolated shunt-based current sensor designed for low to mid range input. Enables simultaneous and isolated monitoring of all three motor phases to detect unbalances. Input ranges available from 100mA to 100A.
Conclusion
Verivolt delivers precision voltage and current sensing solutions tailored for the dynamic requirements of VFD systems. Our sensors provide the performance, accuracy, and isolation needed to ensure optimal motor monitoring. Visit our website to explore products designed to meet the evolving challenges of this industry.
Ensuring accuracy & reliability for eVTOL aircraft testing & validation
Verivolt offers high-performance sensors designed to meet the stringent demands of the eVTOL industry. With high isolation, broad bandwidth, and excellent common-mode rejection, our solutions enable testing across propulsion, battery management, and power electronics systems. Thanks to our deep understanding of test and measurement requirements and industry standards, Verivolt ensures the accuracy and reliability essential for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft testing and validation.
Challenges in Validating and Testing eVTOL Applications
eVTOL aircraft, combining electric propulsion with vertical take-off and landing capabilities, are poised to transform urban mobility by reducing traffic congestion and emissions. Testing and validating the electrical and propulsion systems in eVTOLs involves a range of technical and operational challenges due to the high complexity, safety-critical nature, and novel architectures of these aircraft.
Key challenges include high voltage and current testing, as these systems often operate at several hundred volts (sometimes exceeding 800V) and high current levels, particularly in propulsion and battery systems.
This complexity is further compounded by the use of multi-rotor or distributed electric propulsion systems with intricate control and synchronization requirements—powered by batteries that must undergo extensive charge/discharge testing under a variety of environmental and load conditions.
Additionally, as the eVTOL industry is still an emerging field, it suffers from a lack of standardized protocols. Many testing standards are still under development, making cross-comparison and certification more difficult. Engineers are often required to design custom test setups and navigate evolving regulatory frameworks such as those from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
How Verivolt sensors help solving these Challenges
Verivolt sensors, such as the IsoBand V, IsoBlock I-ZF, and IsoBlock V, are designed to address the specific challenges associated with eVTOL aircraft testing and validation.
These tests include:
- Power Distribution and Bus Testing
- Electrical Propulsion testing
- Thermal Management System Validation
- Battery Performance Testing
- Avionics and Control System Power Testing
- System Integration and Endurance Testing
- Fault Injection and Safety Testing
- Efficiency and Loss Analysis
How our sensors add unparalleled performance to test setups
Verivolt sensors are used in the above application fields because they present the following characteristics:
With these capabilities, our sensors are an important complement to traditional DAQ (Data Acquisition) systems, expanding their measurement range, preserving accuracy, and adding unparalleled isolation levels to test setups.
Conclusion
Verivolt sensors feature specifications that are increasingly needed for the validation and testing of eVTOL aircraft and systems, helping professionals meet stringent requirements and supporting innovation in the field of sustainable aviation.