Research

Open toolchain, published physics, measurable hardware

Axial Labs is a research-first engineering division. We build on open-source simulation (OpenFOAM, QBlade, OpenFAST), published CFD datasets, and textbook blade theory. Every design is measurable against the literature before a single gram of aluminum is cut.

Research Threads

AXL-T In-Pipe Tubular Propeller Family shipping The production line. 300 mm to 600 mm pipe diameters, NACA 63-series blades, BEMT-derived geometry, OpenFOAM-validated. The toolchain and supply chain that every other architecture inherits.

Venturi Duct Optimization in progress Parametric study of duct contraction ratio, throat length, and diffuser angle for 2 m rotors in 1 to 3 m/s flow. Baseline literature: Oxford, TU Delft, INSEAN. Target: 30% uplift over bare rotor at 2 m/s.

Flexible Foil VAWT Scout Prototype prototype Norwegian flexible-blade concept adapted for scout-scale deployment. NACA 4412 base profile, spring-loaded blade root pivot, passive camber modulation. Self-starts under 0.3 m/s. Target unit cost: under $5,000.

Autonomous Hydrofoil Kite Control research ArduPilot and PX4 adapted for underwater figure-eight trajectory control. Target: stable 8 m/s effective velocity in a 1.5 m/s ambient current using a 3 to 4 m wingspan.

Biofouling Decay Curves measurement Long-run Cp measurement under Salish Sea fouling conditions. Target: quantify biofoul-driven Cp decay well enough to predict cleaning windows from fleet telemetry alone.

Oscillating Hydrofoil Feasibility hypothesis Exploratory review of Stingray-class oscillating hydrofoils for sites where seal and bearing failure dominate the maintenance burden. No rotating parts in water.

Open-Source Toolchain

Tool	Source	Use
OpenFOAM	open-source (GPL)	CFD for rotor and duct geometry
QBlade	TU Berlin	Blade design, BEMT solver
OpenFAST	NREL	Full-turbine dynamic simulation
FreeCAD	open-source	Parametric mechanical design
ArduPilot / PX4	open-source	Kite autopilot adaptation

Tool

Source

Use

OpenFOAM

open-source (GPL)

CFD for rotor and duct geometry

QBlade

TU Berlin

Blade design, BEMT solver

OpenFAST

NREL

Full-turbine dynamic simulation

FreeCAD

open-source

Parametric mechanical design

ArduPilot / PX4

open-source

Kite autopilot adaptation

No proprietary CFD or FEA licenses. Every simulation is reproducible on commodity workstations. Every design passes through the same toolchain regardless of architecture.

Research in Pictures

AXL-T in-pipe tubular propeller cross-section, patent-style — AXL-T In-Pipe Tubular Propeller Family.

Venturi duct contraction ratio CFD simulation — Venturi Duct Optimization.

Flexible foil VAWT scout prototype, patent-style side view — Flexible Foil VAWT Scout Prototype.

Autonomous hydrofoil kite figure-eight trajectory diagram — Autonomous Hydrofoil Kite Control.

Biofouling decay curve chart, Cp vs. deployment weeks — Biofouling Decay Curves.

Oscillating hydrofoil heave-pitch cycle, patent-style diagram — Oscillating Hydrofoil Feasibility.