Technology

Distributed electroaerodynamic propulsion.

Electroaerodynamics (EAD) uses electric fields to accelerate ions in a gas and transfer momentum to surrounding air. The resulting airflow produces reaction thrust without propellers in the thrust element.

From thruster to array

Pixel Thruster approaches the problem as a modular architecture. Rather than treating one large surface as a single device, it divides the system into repeatable cells that can be characterized independently.

Why multistage

A single EAD stage does not define the final performance of a multistage architecture. The project will measure how much each additional stage contributes, where losses emerge and when further stacking stops being useful.

What we want to optimize

• Thrust per unit area.
• Thrust per electrical watt.
• Thrust relative to module mass.
• Discharge stability and durability.
• Ozone production and electrical safety.