Patent — available for licensing
Efficient Megawatt-Scale Cable for Electric Aircraft Propulsion
A NASA invention available to explore as a licensing opportunity.
About this technology
Overview
The electrification of aircraft is constrained by the limitations of conventional cabling. Transmitting megawatt-scale power requires cables that are not only lightweight but also capable of maintaining efficiency and insulation integrity at high altitudes. Standard high-voltage cables add excessive mass and suffer from reduced dielectric performance in low-pressure environments, making them unsuitable for large-scale electrified aviation. To overcome these challenges, innovators at NASA’s Glenn Research Center have developed a new class of lightweight, cooled high-voltage cable designed specifically for aircraft electrification. This cable is a single system that can both power and cool the motors, generators, and other power electronics of an electrified aircraft. By combining electrical and thermal functionality in one integrated solution, the technology addresses critical barriers to scaling electric propulsion in aviation.