Flight Performance Enhancements using Atmospheric Gusts and Aeroelastic Effects

小型无人机（SUAV）是一种机器人飞行器，通常只有几公斤重。它们是大型飞机无法实现的许多应用的理想选择，例如低空航空测量。然而，我们对它们独特的空气动力学、飞行动力学和使命能力的了解有限，极大地抑制了这种相对较新的飞机类别的全部潜力的开发。拟议的研究将解决许多这些挑战，并开发将推进SUV的方法。

Small unmanned aerial vehicles (SUAV) are robotic aircraft typically weighing only a few kilograms. They are ideal for many applications impossible for larger aircraft, for example low-level aerial surveying. However, our limited understanding of their unique aerodynamics, flight dynamics, and mission capabilities greatly inhibit the exploitation of the full potential of this relatively new class of aircraft. The proposed research will address many of these challenges and develop methodologies that will advance SUAVs.