Challenges of Ultralong Flight Endurances Using Small Uninhabited Aerial Vehicles

电力推进技术的进步导致了无人驾驶飞行器(UAV)的激增。此外，新的电池技术和可再生能源的进步使无人机任务变得可以想象，而这些任务以前是无法想象的。特别是，这些新的进步使得可以想象到超过几个月的超长不间断飞行时间，即使在飞行质量低于50公斤的相对较小的飞机设计的限制下也是如此。超长时间飞行的能力将使许多新的和创新的应用程序使用无人机，特别是许多服务于加拿大需求的应用程序。例如，这种飞机可以作为与气候变化相关的研究的低成本长期观测平台，或者作为人口稀少地区的通信枢纽。拟议的研究计划旨在推进与飞机相关的基础技术，以及使在不久的将来实现近乎永续飞行所需的设计和操作方面的理解。具体地说，拟议的研究计划旨在解决与集成具有超长飞行耐力的小型无人机所需的不同技术相关的挑战。这些技术挑战涉及自主性、飞行路径规划、长期可靠性、低速空气动力学、动力管理和推进以及有效载荷集成和结构要求。除了开发和展示超长飞行时间的能力外，拟议的研究计划直接支持我的长期研究目标，即增进我们对无人机空气动力学和飞行动力学的理解，以提高其实用性。拟议的方法在航空学方面具有创新性和高度原创性，并将使用新的建模和测试方法。它将扩展我的研究小组在过去几年中在我的指导下开发的经验和方法。计划的方法是：a)开发设计空间探索和任务规划的理论工具，c)探索近永久飞行所需的电源管理概念，例如太阳能，b)研究提高飞行性能的创新飞行路径，如尾流冲浪。理论模型和概念将在使用莱尔森大学大型风洞的风洞测试和使用各种现有和新型无人机的飞行测试中得到实施和验证。这项研究将为快速发展的航空学学科中的至少六名HQP提供相关培训。近永久飞行能力的发展将继续以先进的专业知识和新的概念推动加拿大无人机行业的发展。此外，近永久飞行可能解决许多商业和研究挑战，这些挑战特定于加拿大，需要长期、低成本的空中平台，例如用于通信或环境观测需求。

Advancements in electric propulsion technologies have led to a proliferation of uninhabited aerial vehicles (UAV). In addition, new battery technologies and progress with regenerative energy sources have made imaginable UAV missions that were previously unimaginable. In particular, these new advancements have made conceivable ultralong nonstop-flight times that exceed several months, even with the constraint of a relatively small aircraft design of less than 50 kg flight mass. The ability to fly for ultralong times will enable many new and innovative applications using UAVs, especially many that serve Canadian needs. For example, such aircraft can serve as low-cost, long-term observation platforms for climate-change related research or as communication hubs in sparsely populated areas. The proposed research program aims at advancing the underlying aircraft-related technologies, as well as the required design and operational understanding that are needed to make near-perpetual flight possible in the very near future. Specifically, the proposed research program aims to solve the challenges related to the integration of the different technologies that are required for small UAV with ultra-long flight endurances. These technological challenges are related to autonomy, flightpath planning, long-term reliability, low-speed aerodynamics, power management and propulsion as well as payload-integration and structural requirements. Aside from developing and demonstrating the ability to fly for ultralong flight times, the proposed research plan is in direct support of my long-term research goal, which is to advance our understanding of the aerodynamics and flight dynamics of UAVs in order to improve their utility. The proposed methodology is innovative and highly original in aeronautics and will use novel modeling and testing approaches. It will expand on the experience and methods that my research group has developed under my supervision over the past years. The planned approach is to: a) Develop theoretical tools for design-space explorations and mission planning, c) Explore power management concepts needed for near-perpetual flight, for example solar power, b) Investigate innovative flightpaths that enhance the flight performance, such as wake surfing. The theoretical models and concepts will be implemented and validated in wind-tunnel tests using Ryerson University's large wind tunnel and in flight tests using various existing and new UAVs. The research will provide relevant training to at least six HQP in a rapidly expanding discipline of aeronautics. The development of near-perpetual flight capabilities will continue to advance Canada's UAV industry with advanced expertise and new concepts. In addition, near-perpetual flight holds possible solutions to many commercial and research challenges that are specific to Canada and require long-term, low-cost airborne platforms, such as for communication or environmental observation needs.