CSA Catapult powers next-gen electric taxiing in new project
UK's Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult (CSA Catapult) has announced that it is a core technology partner in project SONATA, a UK Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) funded project developing an on-aircraft electric green taxi system with regenerative braking and energy recovery.
Electric wheel taxiing allows aircraft to move on the ground using electric motors rather than main engines, reducing fuel burn, emissions, noise and brake wear during taxi operations. Project SONATA represents a major step toward more sustainable, ultraefficient aircraft operations.
CSA Catapult, working alongside consortium partners Airbus, Evolito, DePe Gear, DSD, Magnomatics, the University of Southampton and Denchi, will deliver the advanced power electronics and semiconductor integration that underpin the system’s performance and efficiency.
Caroline O’Brien, CEO of CSA Catapult, said: “We are enormously proud to be a key enabler of project SONATA through our development of custom SiC power modules for aerospace applications. This project combines our advanced R&D expertise, and our unique position in the semiconductor supply chain as the organisation that unlocks the wider ecosystem.”
CSA Catapult will provide the control, power conversion and monitoring required to drive the wheel actuator motors. designing, optimising, manufacturing and testing a bespoke SiC power module for integration into its multilevel, multiphase aerospace inverter topology, targeting 15 kW/kg power density. The module will combine Active Metal Brazed substrates (AMB) for high thermal conductivity, additive manufacturing for lightweight, compact structural components, and AI-driven design optimisation to achieve maximum power density and minimum thermal loss.
The technology brought to the project by CSA Catapult allows efficient power converters to be integrated into the space-constrained landing gear bay, while maintaining reliability under vibration, shock, and thermal cycling.
Industry Minister, Chris McDonald said: “This is government and business collaboration in action to keep the UK at the forefront of innovation in our world-class aerospace sector, and I look forward to seeing how Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult’s project can cut emissions and transform airport taxiing for the long term.
“We’re boosting our support for the aerospace industry through our Modern Industrial Strategy – giving business the confidence it needs to invest in UK advanced manufacturing and sustainable aviation.”
