Bell Textron has been recognised by Popular Science magazine for its Electrically Distributed Anti-Torque (EDAT) innovation. Bell received the ‘Best of What's New Award’ in the Aerospace category for 2020. The system was installed on a Bell 429 demonstrator aircraft, which began flight testing in May 2019.

This marks the third consecutive year Bell has won Popular Science's Best of What's New Award in the Aerospace category. The company's Autonomous Pod Transport (APT) 70 was awarded in 2019 and the Bell V-280 Valor Joint Multi Role technology demonstrator won in 2018.

“The team continues to design, build and fly new innovative solutions by applying a unique approach to meet the needs of current and future customers,” says Eric Sinusas, director of Bell's commercial development programmes. “We are honoured by the continuous recognition from a leading technology industry voice like Popular Science, celebrating our team's hard work and commitment to furthering technology in the aerospace industry.”

“The Best of What's New Award showcases the year's greatest feats of human ingenuity,“ adds Popular Science editor-in-chief Corinne Iozzio. “Even in a year like 2020, innovation has helped us glimpse a future that's safer, smarter and more enjoyable than we might have thought possible. This collection, which includes everything from a new generation of Mars explorers to ultra-hygienic print-to-order eyeshadows, is full of items we're proud to call the Best of What's New.”

Bell's EDAT is its latest commercial innovation, unveiled in February 2020. The EDAT system is composed of four small fans within a tail rotor shroud in an offset two-by-two pattern. Each of the rotors contains four blades, and they are powered by four separate motors with the electrical energy provided through generators driven by the turbine engines.

This innovation provides enhancements to reduction in noise pollution compared to an aircraft with a conventional tail rotor as well as lower operational and maintenance costs. Throughout the year, Bell's EDAT innovation has garnered interest as the first technology of its kind in the rotorcraft industry, challenging the norms for aircraft noise output, safety and electrical distribution.