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。具体而言，该提案将探讨如何提取的能量，大气阵风使用气动弹性定制的机翼，在特定的方式下，阵风诱导的负载变形。初步模型表明，由于阵风场的作用，这种机翼的阻力可减少25%，这对这些小型飞机的飞行性能来说是一个很大的改进。本研究的目的是改善这些影响的更详细的调查的理论模型。这项研究直接支持了我的长期研究目标，即提高对SUV空气动力学和飞行动力学的理解，以提高其性能。所提出的方法是基本的和原始的航空，因为它使用了一种新的建模方法，结合模型的流体-结构相互作用和大气阵风能量收集。挑战是这些小型飞机典型的非线性空气动力学和目前有限的设计和操作经验。计划的方法是：**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）确定使阵风向飞机的能量传递最大化的结构和几何参数。* 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。**这项研究计划的成果将推进这类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广泛的培训机会，这些学生将学习流体结构交互建模和小型机器人飞机设计等航空学新兴学科。此外，该研究将决定性地促进SUAV的发展，从而改进设计，并协助加拿大工业和研究界继续成功应对SUAV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.