Flight Performance Enhancements using Atmospheric Gusts and Aeroelastic Effects

小型无人机（SUAV）是一种机器人飞行器，通常重量只有几公斤。它们是许多大型飞机无法实现的应用的理想选择，例如低空航空测量。然而，我们对其独特的空气动力学，飞行动力学和任务能力的有限理解极大地抑制了这种相对新型飞机的全部潜力的开发。拟议的研究将解决许多这些挑战，并开发将推进无人机的方法。******具体来说，该提案将探索如何使用在阵风诱导载荷下以特定方式变形的气动弹性定制机翼来提取大气阵风的能量。初步的模型表明，由于阵风场的影响，这种机翼可以节省多达25%的阻力，这意味着这些小型飞机的飞行性能有了很大的提高。研究目的是改进理论模型，以便更详细地研究这些效应。这项研究直接支持了我的长期研究目标，即推进对无人机空气动力学和飞行动力学的理解，以提高其性能。******所提出的方法在航空学中是基本的和原始的，因为它使用了一种新的建模方法，结合了流固相互作用和大气阵风能量收集的模型。这些小型飞机面临的挑战是典型的非线性空气动力学，以及目前有限的设计和操作经验。计划的方法是：******a)开发和验证一个合适的气动弹性模型。***b)建立小型飞行器通过阵风场时的动力学模型；***c)确定能最大限度地从阵风向飞行器传递能量的结构和几何参数。******理论模型的验证包括在Ryerson新升级的风洞中进行的测试。******这项研究计划的结果将推进这种新型飞机的设计方法，并增加我们对小规模飞行的理解。该研究将为至少四名研究生和三名本科生提供在流体结构相互作用建模和小型机器人飞机设计等新兴航空学科的广泛培训机会。此外，该研究将无疑有助于无人机的进步，随后导致改进设计，并协助加拿大工业和研究界继续成功应对他们的无人机挑战。

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.******Specifically, this proposal will explore how to extract the energy of atmospheric wind gusts using aeroelastically tailored wings that deform in specific manners under gust-induced loads. Preliminary modelling indicates as much as 25% drag savings for such wings due to gust fields, which represents a big improvement in flight performance for these small aircraft. The research objective is to improve the theoretical models for more detailed investigations of these effects. This research is in direct support of my long-term research goal to advance the understanding of aerodynamics and flight dynamics of SUAVs in order to improve their performance.******The proposed methodology is fundamental and original in aeronautics as it uses a novel modelling approach that combines models for fluid-structure interactions and atmospheric gust energy harvesting. Challenges are the nonlinear aerodynamics typical for these small aircraft and the presently limited design and operational experience with them. The planned approach is to:******a) Develop and validate a suitable aeroelastic model.***b) Model the dynamics of a small flight vehicle as it passes through a gust field,***c) Identify the structural and geometric parameters that maximize the energy transfer from gust to aircraft. ******The validation of the theoretical model includes tests in Ryerson's newly upgraded wind tunnel.******The outcomes of this research proposal will advance the design methodologies for this novel class of aircraft and increase our understanding of small scale flight. The research will provide extensive training opportunities for at least four graduate and three undergraduate students in the emerging disciplines in aeronautics of fluid-structure interaction modelling and small robotic aircraft design. Furthermore, the research will decidedly contribute to the advancement of SUAVs, subsequently leading to improved designs and assisting the Canadian industry and research community to continue to succeed with their SUAV challenges.