What I'm working on - eVTOL in a nutshell

eVTOL stands for "electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing" aircraft - think ground vehicles that operate in the air, just like helicopters but use clean electric power. These advanced vehicles could revolutionize urban transportation, reducing traffic congestion and carbon emissions. However, designing them requires solving complex challenges: How to maximize flight efficiency? How to ensure safety during sudden weather changes? How to optimize battery usage for longer trips? This is where our research comes in. By combining flight physics simulations with smart control algorithms, we're helping create mathematical models that predict eVTOL performance in different conditions, design optimal flight paths, and ultimately make these futuristic vehicles both practical and safe. The upcoming generation might be the first to ride in these electric air taxis - understanding their science today helps build that future. That's why we are saying: engineering students write not only papers, but also histories.

Brief introduction to myself

I am currently a tenure-track associate professor and master student supervisor in Hangzhou campus of Beihang University. Prior to joining the university, I got my B. Eng. (2016) and Ph. D. (2022) degrees both in Beihang University major in aircraft airworthiness, supervised by Prof. Shuguang Zhang. From 2018 to 2020, I was also a joint Ph. D. in Technical University of Munich, supervised by Prof. Florian Holzapfel. From 2022 to 2024, I was a postdoc researcher in Beijing Institute of Technology. My research interests include flight dynamics-based simulation, performance prediction, optimal control using analytical or numerical methods, together with their applications in eVTOL and other advanced aeronautic and astronautic vehicles. I am now in charge of a project funded by National Natural Science Foundation of China. I have been a TA/guest lecturer of "Dynamics and control of eVTOL" in Beihang University since 2021.

External links

 - ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mingkai-Wang-3

 - ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2882-0583 

 - Special issue AAM&Green aviation (1st volume): https://www.mdpi.com/journal/aerospace/special_issues/0F960V7LRX

 - Special issue AAM&Green aviation (2nd volume): https://www.mdpi.com/journal/aerospace/special_issues/9632X040YH

Selected recent publications

1. Bi-Layer Sizing and Design Optimization Method of Propulsion System for Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing Aircraft[J]. Energy, 2023, 283: 129052（1/5）

2. A Range Prediction Method for All-Electric Aircraft by Capacity Discretization-Based Iterative Convex Programming[J]. IEEE Transactions on Transportation Electrification, 2024,10(2): 3455-3467（1/4）

3. Reentry Blackout Reachable Set Footprint Prediction Using Multi-Phase Trajectory Optimization[J]. Advances in Space Research, 2023, 72(6): 1970-1982（1/3）

4. Learning-Based Design Optimization of Second-Order Tracking Differentiator with Application to Missile Guidance Law[J]. Aerospace Science and Technology, 2023, 137: 108302（2*/4）

5. Minimum-Time Trajectory Generation of eVTOL in Low-Speed Phase: Application in Control Law Design [J]. IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems, 2023, 59(2): 1260-1275（1/5）

6. Desensitized Optimal Control of Electric Aircraft Subject to Electrical-Thermal Constraints[J]. IEEE Transactions on Transportation Electrification, 2022, 8(4): 4190-4204（1/4）

7. Operational Availability Analysis of Short-Haul Electric Aeroplane Using Polynomial Chaos Expansion[J]. Transportmetrica B: Transport Dynamics, 2022, 10(1): 988-1009（1/4）

8. Trajectory Optimization-Based Maneuverability Assessment of eVTOL Aircraft[J]. Aerospace Science and Technology, 2021, 117: 1-20（1/5）

9. Battery Package Design Optimization for Small Electric Aircraft[J]. Chinese Journal of Aeronautics, 2020, 33(11): 2864-2876（1/4）