Enhance aerodynamic stability of a new small ducted-fan type VTOL UAV model for precision agriculture

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Small ducted-fan type vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is a valuable new resource for precision agriculture (PA). It can provide real-time high-resolution images of monitored crop field, which allows farmers to remotely detect the crop and soil conditions, as well as to identify inter and intra-field variability in crops on time with more ecologically cautious and smaller footprint. However, the aerodynamics associated with small ducted-fan type VTOL UAV is very complicated. The EnviroDrone Ltd. (ENVD) is an Ontario-based private company which designs and fabricates the most intelligent UAVs of its kind to address the needs in accurately mapping crops, mining sites, quarries, forests, construction sites etc.. Recently, when designing a new small ducted-fan VTOL UAV model to serve PA, the company faces a technical challenge in attaining the effectiveness of the control system, particularly during transitions between low-speed vertical flight and high-speed horizontal flight in cross- and/or turbulent winds. This is mainly induced by the imbalanced lift at high angle of attack and sensitivity of aerodynamic moment to the change in flight conditions. Dr. Cheng has extensive expertise in bluff body aerodynamics, fluid-structure interaction and wind