Flight Performance Enhancements using Atmospheric Gusts and Aeroelastic Effects

小型无人机(SUAV)是一种机器人飞机，通常只有几公斤重。它们是许多大型飞机无法完成的应用的理想选择，例如低空航测。然而，我们对它们独特的空气动力学、飞行动力学和任务能力的有限了解，极大地限制了这种相对较新的机型的全部潜力的开发。这项拟议的研究将解决其中许多挑战，并开发将推动无人驾驶飞行器的方法。*具体地说，这项建议将探索如何使用气动弹性定制的机翼来提取大气风阵风的能量，这些机翼在阵风诱导的载荷下以特定方式变形。初步模拟表明，由于阵风场的作用，这种机翼的阻力节省了25%，这代表着这些小型飞机的飞行性能有了很大的改善。研究的目的是改进理论模型，以便更详细地研究这些影响。这项研究直接支持了我的长期研究目标，即促进对SUV空气动力学和飞行动力学的了解，以提高其性能。*所提出的方法在航空学中是基本和原创的，因为它使用了一种新的建模方法，该方法结合了流体-结构相互作用和大气阵风能量收集的模型。挑战是这些小型飞机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。计划中的方法是：*a)开发和验证合适的气动弹性模型。*b)模拟小型飞行器通过阵风场时的动力学，*c)确定最大限度地将能量从阵风传递到飞机的结构和几何参数。*理论模型的验证包括在瑞尔森新升级的风洞中进行的测试。*这项研究建议的结果将推进这一新型飞机的设计方法，并增加我们对小规模飞行的理解。这项研究将为流体-结构相互作用建模和小型机器人飞机设计等新兴学科的至少四名研究生和三名本科生提供广泛的培训机会。此外，这项研究将对SUV的进步做出决定性的贡献，随后导致改进设计，并帮助加拿大工业和研究团体继续成功应对SUV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.