Student engineering teams from three international universities collaborated to develop two iterations of an unmanned aircraft called Hyperion over two academic years. The first iteration, Hyperion 1.0, was a 3m wingspan flying wing design inspired by NASA's X-48B blended wing body aircraft. The second iteration, Hyperion 2.0, evolved the design into a true blended wing body configuration with increased wing sweep. Aerodynamic modeling showed Hyperion 2.0 achieves a more elliptical lift distribution and stall at the midwing as desired. Hyperion 2.0 is intended to demonstrate a novel hybrid gas-electric propulsion system concurrently under development.
B The document summarizes recent military interest in developing airships for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions and airlift missions. It finds that:
B If unmanned airships can achieve their proposed speeds, payloads, and endurance, they could effectively serve in the ISR and airlift roles;
B Airships' performance characteristics would provide some advantages and disadvantages compared to conventional aircraft currently used for ISR and airlift missions;
B Developing military airships presents new operational challenges such as greater weather sensitivity and unique maintenance and support needs.
It follows step by step procedure of designing an optimized propeller for a container ship and numerical analysis of the final propeller.
Paper published on Technical journal of University of Galati, Romania.
AIAA White Paper on Fluid Dynamics Challenges in Flight mechanicsstephen_mcparlin
This document proposes a taxonomy to systematically address flight mechanics issues for aircraft using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). It recommends a series of workshops focusing on specific fluid dynamics phenomena relevant to flight stability problems. The workshops would combine experimental data analysis and CFD evaluation to determine the appropriate level of modeling needed to predict each phenomenon. This "building block" approach aims to advance CFD capabilities and identify areas needing further research, in order to improve prediction of nonlinear flight stability characteristics.
This document summarizes research conducted by students at the University of Illinois to analyze jet engine thrust performance through computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation and physical testing. The students used CFD software to model the flow through nozzle designs for a JetCat P140-RX miniature turbine engine. Thrust values predicted by the CFD simulations closely matched manufacturer specifications. The students also designed and built a test stand to physically validate thrust measurements of the engine mounted on bearings between parallel rails. Further CFD simulations and nozzle designs were planned to more fully validate simulation results against physical performance data.
This report summarizes the preliminary design of the EcoBobcat DEP19 aircraft, which uses distributed electric propulsion (DEP) with 14 propellers powered by turbo-electric generators. The design team selected epoxy sheet molding compound (carbon fiber) as the primary material. An estimated empty weight of 3,200 kg was calculated based on comparable aircraft. A novel "looped-back wing" concept is proposed, with the main wing looping back to attach near the tail, powered by superconducting motors. Performance analysis shows the aircraft meets all competition requirements with a range over 3,500 km, endurance over 8 hours, and a climb rate of 513 m/min. Structural analysis confirmed the wing can
Optimisation of the design of uav wing j.alexander, Prakash, BSM Augustinesathyabama
The document discusses the optimization of the design of UAV wings. It analyzes two types of rectangular wings using aerodynamic and structural design methods. Aerodynamic analysis using vortex lattice modeling found lift coefficients for the wings. Structural analysis using CATIA found that using composite materials instead of isotropic materials reduced mass by 34%. The optimum design of each wing maximized strength while minimizing mass and displacement.
Optimisation of the design of uav wing j.alexandersathyabama
The document discusses the optimization of the design of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) wings. It analyzes two types of rectangular wings using vortex lattice CFD software to determine aerodynamic loads and CATIA V5 software for structural analysis. When composite materials are used instead of isotropic materials, a 34% mass reduction is achieved. The optimum design is determined for each wing based on minimum mass, stress, and displacement.
This document summarizes the design and testing of a fuel cell powered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for low altitude surveillance missions. The UAV was designed with an aerodynamic glider configuration and powered by a 200 W polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell system fed by a chemical hydride hydrogen generator, along with lithium polymer batteries. Bench and flight tests showed the hybrid power system enabled flight durations of nearly 4 hours. The document discusses the aircraft design process, onboard power system, results from testing, and lessons learned for optimizing long endurance fuel cell powered UAVs.
B The document summarizes recent military interest in developing airships for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions and airlift missions. It finds that:
B If unmanned airships can achieve their proposed speeds, payloads, and endurance, they could effectively serve in the ISR and airlift roles;
B Airships' performance characteristics would provide some advantages and disadvantages compared to conventional aircraft currently used for ISR and airlift missions;
B Developing military airships presents new operational challenges such as greater weather sensitivity and unique maintenance and support needs.
It follows step by step procedure of designing an optimized propeller for a container ship and numerical analysis of the final propeller.
Paper published on Technical journal of University of Galati, Romania.
AIAA White Paper on Fluid Dynamics Challenges in Flight mechanicsstephen_mcparlin
This document proposes a taxonomy to systematically address flight mechanics issues for aircraft using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). It recommends a series of workshops focusing on specific fluid dynamics phenomena relevant to flight stability problems. The workshops would combine experimental data analysis and CFD evaluation to determine the appropriate level of modeling needed to predict each phenomenon. This "building block" approach aims to advance CFD capabilities and identify areas needing further research, in order to improve prediction of nonlinear flight stability characteristics.
This document summarizes research conducted by students at the University of Illinois to analyze jet engine thrust performance through computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation and physical testing. The students used CFD software to model the flow through nozzle designs for a JetCat P140-RX miniature turbine engine. Thrust values predicted by the CFD simulations closely matched manufacturer specifications. The students also designed and built a test stand to physically validate thrust measurements of the engine mounted on bearings between parallel rails. Further CFD simulations and nozzle designs were planned to more fully validate simulation results against physical performance data.
This report summarizes the preliminary design of the EcoBobcat DEP19 aircraft, which uses distributed electric propulsion (DEP) with 14 propellers powered by turbo-electric generators. The design team selected epoxy sheet molding compound (carbon fiber) as the primary material. An estimated empty weight of 3,200 kg was calculated based on comparable aircraft. A novel "looped-back wing" concept is proposed, with the main wing looping back to attach near the tail, powered by superconducting motors. Performance analysis shows the aircraft meets all competition requirements with a range over 3,500 km, endurance over 8 hours, and a climb rate of 513 m/min. Structural analysis confirmed the wing can
Optimisation of the design of uav wing j.alexander, Prakash, BSM Augustinesathyabama
The document discusses the optimization of the design of UAV wings. It analyzes two types of rectangular wings using aerodynamic and structural design methods. Aerodynamic analysis using vortex lattice modeling found lift coefficients for the wings. Structural analysis using CATIA found that using composite materials instead of isotropic materials reduced mass by 34%. The optimum design of each wing maximized strength while minimizing mass and displacement.
Optimisation of the design of uav wing j.alexandersathyabama
The document discusses the optimization of the design of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) wings. It analyzes two types of rectangular wings using vortex lattice CFD software to determine aerodynamic loads and CATIA V5 software for structural analysis. When composite materials are used instead of isotropic materials, a 34% mass reduction is achieved. The optimum design is determined for each wing based on minimum mass, stress, and displacement.
This document summarizes the design and testing of a fuel cell powered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for low altitude surveillance missions. The UAV was designed with an aerodynamic glider configuration and powered by a 200 W polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell system fed by a chemical hydride hydrogen generator, along with lithium polymer batteries. Bench and flight tests showed the hybrid power system enabled flight durations of nearly 4 hours. The document discusses the aircraft design process, onboard power system, results from testing, and lessons learned for optimizing long endurance fuel cell powered UAVs.
The document discusses the development of the Frigate Ecojet, a next-generation wide-body aircraft being developed in Russia. It aims to enter production in 2014-2016 with operational performance exceeding most advanced aircraft by 15-20%. A joint working group has been formed between Russian Aviation Consortium and United Aircraft Corporation to conduct research. Conceptual design studies show the aircraft could carry 300 passengers up to 3,500-4,000 km efficiently. Structural and aerodynamic analyses have been performed and prototype testing shows improved fuel efficiency and competitiveness compared to similar aircraft.
Design and Fabrication of Blended Wing Bodyvivatechijri
This document describes the design and fabrication of a blended wing body (BWB) unmanned aerial vehicle. It discusses the BWB concept and its advantages over conventional aircraft designs, including greater internal space and aerodynamic efficiency. The authors designed a BWB model made of balsa and basswood with airfoils selected for lift generation. Analysis and fabrication steps are outlined, including material selection, airfoil choice, configuration design, lift calculation using both theoretical and computational fluid dynamics methods, and manufacturing of individual parts and final assembly. The conclusions state that the designed BWB provides higher payload capacity and volume than conventional designs while enhancing the authors' technical skills.
This document provides a biography for Kei Y. Lau, a Technical Fellow at Boeing with over 34 years of experience. Mr. Lau has expertise in hypersonic aerothermodynamics, thermal management, and vehicle design integration. He has led numerous programs involving hypersonic vehicles and thermal protection systems. His current responsibilities include serving as the thermal design lead for the F/A-18 program and aerothermal lead for hypersonic demonstration programs.
The document summarizes the design of L.A.S.E.R. 5, a solar-powered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) being constructed by students. The goals are to break the world record for longest straight-line distance by a solar-powered UAV and to safely charge the onboard battery using solar panels and hydrogen fuel cells. The design process involves conceptual optimization under FAI regulations, aerodynamic and structural analysis using software, and selection of an efficient airfoil for long-range gliding performance at low speeds. The composite sailplane design incorporates lessons from previous L.A.S.E.R. iterations to advance renewable energy applications for aircraft.
Structural Weight Optimization of Aircraft Wing Component Using FEM Approach.IJERA Editor
One of the main challenges for the civil aviation industry is the reduction of its environmental impact by better fuel efficiency by virtue of Structural optimization. Over the past years, improvements in performance and fuel efficiency have been achieved by simplifying the design of the structural components and usage of composite materials to reduce the overall weight of the structure. This paper deals with the weight optimization of transport aircraft with low wing configuration. The Linear static and Normal Mode analysis were carried out using MSc Nastran & Msc Patran under different pressure conditions and the results were verified with the help of classical approach. The Stress and displacement results were found and verified and hence arrived to the conclusion about the optimization of the wing structure.
Geoffrey Wardle has over 40 years of experience in air and space research and development. His career began in 1982 with designing coatings to protect rocket engine parts from corrosion for the LEROS liquid fuel rocket engine. In the 1980s and early 1990s, he conducted structural qualification testing for components of Eurofighter Typhoon and developed test methodologies at establishments including RAE Farnborough and BAe. Currently, he is researching advanced composite airframe technologies and supersonic bomber design using simulation tools from his graduate studies.
This document discusses the conceptual design, structural analysis, and flow analysis of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) wing. It begins by providing background on UAVs and listing the design requirements and parameters for the wing. It then describes selecting a rectangular wing planform and NACA 2415 airfoil based on the design criteria. Aerodynamic analysis is conducted to determine performance parameters like lift coefficient and drag. Structural analysis of the wing is performed using two spar designs - a tubular spar with and without a strut. Maximum stresses and bending moments are calculated and compared for straight and tapered wing configurations. Flow simulation will also be conducted on the finalized wing design.
Structural dynamic analysis of bio inspired carbon polyethylene MAV wingsijmech
Flapping wing micro air vehicles (FWMAVs) are small unmanned aircrafts or flying robots which are intended to be used for surveillance, reconnaissance, biochemical sensing, targeting, tracking, etc. To perform such missions, MAVs are required to do some specific operations such as hovering; slow and high speed flying; quick landing and take-off, etc. During flapping motion through surrounding air, wings experience inertial and aerodynamic forces. For making successful flights in such conditions, wings must have properties such as flexibility, strength, low weight, long fatigue life, etc. For producing such properties, wing material plays a crucial
role. Most of the research related to MAVs is based on aerodynamics and controls. Present research is based on materials and structural aspects of flapping wings. Here materials used are carbon fibres for making wing skeleton and polyethylene for wing membrane. The design for
the wing of 113.8 mm length is inspired from giant hummingbird’s wing. The wing sketch was developed in gambit software by taking position data, generated using digitizer, from printed image of hummingbird wing. Developed sketch was printed and used, as a guide, for making the wing skeleton. The polyethylene film with adhesive was laminated on the skeleton at 150 ºC.
Natural frequencies, nature of mode shapes, and damping characteristics of fabricated wings are determined here
Heat Transfer Analysis for a Winged Reentry Flight Test BedCSCJournals
In this paper we deal with the aero-heating analysis of a reentry flight demonstrator helpful to the research activities for the design and development of a possible winged Reusable Launch Vehicle. In fact, to reduce risks in the development of next generation reusable launch vehicles, as first step it is suitable to gain deep design knowledge by means of extensive numerical computations, in particular for the aero-thermal environment the vehicle has to withstand during reentry. The demonstrator under study is a reentry space glider, to be used both as Crew Rescue Vehicle and Crew Transfer Vehicle for the International Space Station. It is designed to have large atmospheric manoeuvring capability, to test the whole path from the orbit down to subsonic speeds and then to the landing on a conventional runway. Several analysis tools are integrated in the framework of the vehicle aerothermal design. Between the others, we used computational analyses to simulate aerothermodynamic flowfield around the spacecraft and heat flux distributions over the vehicle surfaces for the assessment of the vehicle Thermal Protection System design. Heat flux distributions, provided for equilibrium conditions of radiation at wall and thermal shield emissivity equal to 0.85, highlight that the vehicle thermal shield has to withstand with about 1500 [kW/m2] and 400 [kW/m2] at nose and wing leading edge, respectively. Therefore, the fast developing new generation of thermal protection materials, such as Ultra High Temperature Ceramics, are available candidate to built the thermal shield in the most solicited vehicle parts. On the other hand, away from spacecraft leading edges, due to the low angle of attack profile followed by the vehicle during descent, the heat flux is close to values attainable with conventional heat shield. Also, the paper shows that the flying test bed is able to validate hypersonic aerothermodynamic design database and passenger experiments, including thermal shield and hot structures, giving confidence that a full-scale development can successfully proceed.
Design, Fabrication and Aerodynamic Analysis of RC Powered Aircraft WingIRJET Journal
This document describes the design, fabrication, and aerodynamic analysis of a radio-controlled aircraft wing. The researchers designed a rectangular wing with a Gottingen 526 airfoil profile using computational fluid dynamics software to analyze lift and drag coefficients. The wing structure and control surfaces were fabricated based on the optimal design parameters. Wind tunnel testing was then used to validate the aerodynamic performance and characteristics of the wing.
HydroFoil Simulation Using ANSYS FluentAhmed Gamal
The document discusses computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations performed to analyze flow around a hydrofoil. It describes the hydrofoil geometry and meshing process, which involved multiple meshing strategies to generate high quality meshes. It also covers important considerations for the CFD solver setup, such as choosing a pressure-based solver, initializing the solution, and selecting an appropriate turbulence model. The k-epsilon realizable model was used to model the fully turbulent, incompressible flow in 2D simulations of the hydrofoil at different angles of attack.
Hydrofoil Ship simulation Using Ansys FluentAhmed Gamal
This document discusses a CFD workshop report on analyzing hydrofoils for naval applications. It begins with introductions to hydrofoils, their history, and basic terminology. It then describes the specific hydrofoil being modeled, including design considerations. The document outlines the extensive meshing trials conducted to generate the computational mesh for CFD analysis. It discusses important considerations for setting up the fluid solver, including initialization parameters, turbulence models, and mesh quality. Results are then presented for two test cases of the hydrofoil design, analyzing lift and drag forces. The report concludes with notes on further optimizing the hydrofoil design based on the CFD results.
This document discusses the use of computational modeling to study hydrofoil design improvements for reducing water takeoff distances of amphibious aircraft. It provides background on challenges in amphibious aircraft design and limited prior research on using hydrofoils. The author develops a preliminary computational framework to assess hydrofoil performance and effectiveness for amphibious aircraft applications, focusing on optimizing hydrofoil position, span, and incidence angle to minimize water takeoff distance while maintaining aircraft stability. A case study applies this framework to a 10-seater amphibious aircraft concept, finding that a hydrofoil can reduce hull resistance and water takeoff distance.
In recent years, air transportation has increased between major cities. Conventional aircraft's lack fuel efficiency, high Lift to Drag (L/D) ratio, high payload carrying capacity since there has not been a major technological breakthrough in aerodynamic geometry. Hence, there has been a need to develop a new composite structure to push the boundaries of current technologies and to breathe new life into civil transportation. Blended Wing Body (BWB) bridges the gap between future requirements. The BWB configuration is a new concept in aircraft design which provides greater internal volume, aerodynamics and structural efficiency, noise reduction, and most importantly significant improvement on cost-per-seat-mile. The design approach of BWB is to maximize overall efficiency by integrating the propulsion systems, wings, and the body into a single lifting surface. BWB is a unique tailless single entity where the fuselage is merged with wing and tail. Blended wing body has flattened and airfoil surface which contributes higher lift than conventional ones. The objective of this paper is to study aerodynamic study of blended wing body layout.
The document describes the design and fabrication of a small-scale radio controlled unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for aerial photography. Key aspects of the project include:
1) The UAV will be constructed primarily of balsa wood with a wingspan of 120cm and powered by an 820kv brushless motor and 3-cell lithium polymer battery.
2) Aerodynamic and structural design calculations were performed to determine dimensions, required thrust and power, stall speed, and glide range.
3) The design and fabrication process will involve selecting an airfoil, creating CAD models, building the wing ribs and spars, assembling the fuselage, and installing electronic components before flight testing
The document summarizes a graduate student project to design and build a blended wing body aircraft called Hyperion that investigates green aircraft technologies. The project aims to reduce noise, fuel consumption, and emissions. Key aspects include a hybrid gas-electric propulsion system, autonomous flight capabilities using an autopilot, and manufacturing composite wing structures using carbon fiber. Testing will involve building half-scale prototypes and conducting flight tests to prove the aerodynamic design.
ANALYSING AND MINIMIZATION OF SONIC BOOM IN SUPERSONIC COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFTIRJET Journal
This document discusses the analysis and minimization of sonic booms for a supersonic commercial aircraft. It describes calculating aerodynamic and structural properties of the aircraft, as well as modeling the aircraft in CATIA and performing computational fluid dynamics analysis in ANSYS Fluent. The document summarizes methods for approximating the sonic boom using Carlson theory and Sea Bass. It aims to design an aircraft that can achieve a cruise speed of Mach 1.6 over 4600km with a sonic boom overpressure of 0.547 psf and duration of 0.3 seconds.
The document describes the SOLSTICE hybrid propulsion system being designed by students for a blended wing-body aircraft called Hyperion. The goal is to design, build, integrate and test a hybrid combustion/electric propulsion system that allows the aircraft to operate in different flight modes (cruise, quiet, dash) using the electric motor and internal combustion engine separately or together. The SOLSTICE system uses a patent-pending gearbox to combine the torque from the electric motor and internal combustion engine to drive a single propeller. Analytical models were created during the design process to ensure the system can provide sufficient power for the aircraft.
This paper discusses the processes involved in the additive manufacturing of a regenerative and film-cooled liquid rocket engine with a thrust of 10 kN using Inconel 718, while detailing validation techniques. A description of the objectives and design constraints provide the context and motivations. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) models were developed and provided the expected pressure and thermal regimes under regenerative and film cooling. Additionally, Finite Element (FE) models were used to predict the capabilities of the engine structure. A description of 3D printing methods highlights the benefits and limitations of the technology, specifically the influence the design of liquid rocket engines. A pintle injector is used, printed as a separate, easily removable and replaceable component. Issues related to overhangs, surface roughness, and shrinkage; aspects related to post-print processing and the need to minimize machining are discussed. Results from the CT scans of the engine and its components are presented. The paper also outlines the series of tests that will be performed on this engine to verify its performance and provide design basis for future works. This engine will be used to power the reusable flight vehicle that is under development at the Kyushu Institute of Technology in Japan. The student-led Liquid Propulsion Laboratory at the University of Southern California is responsible for the work detailed below.
The document describes the development of a wireless cut-down system for high altitude balloons (HABs) conducted by Brendan Batliner and Milan Shah at the Adler Planetarium. The system uses Arduino microcontrollers and XBee wireless transceivers to allow sensors on the HAB payload to communicate wirelessly and trigger a cut-down based on programmed conditions. Testing confirmed the low-power wireless system could reliably trigger a cut-down. A Kalman filter was also developed to increase sensor accuracy by reducing noise. The wireless, modular cut-down system allows for more efficient flight control and expansion to integrate additional sensors.
Jean Koster is looking for part- or full-time opportunities in design engineering. She has over 30 years of experience in aerospace engineering, including as a professor emeritus at the University of Colorado where she conducted research in systems engineering and aerospace materials. She has also served as Chief Technology Officer and President of companies developing hybrid aircraft engine systems. Koster has a Doctorate and Diploma in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Karlsruhe in Germany and over 100 publications in her field.
AREND: A sensor aircraft to support wildlife rangersJean Koster
The document describes the design of an unmanned aerial system called AREND to support wildlife rangers in South Africa. AREND is being designed by an international student team to conduct remote surveillance of large parks using sensors to detect poachers and monitor rhino populations. The aircraft is an electric fixed-wing design that can carry sensor payloads for over 90 minutes of flight. Sensors will include day/night cameras and infrared to detect humans and rhinos from the air. The system also includes a ground sensor network to transmit data to rangers and help locate poaching threats on the ground.
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The document discusses the development of the Frigate Ecojet, a next-generation wide-body aircraft being developed in Russia. It aims to enter production in 2014-2016 with operational performance exceeding most advanced aircraft by 15-20%. A joint working group has been formed between Russian Aviation Consortium and United Aircraft Corporation to conduct research. Conceptual design studies show the aircraft could carry 300 passengers up to 3,500-4,000 km efficiently. Structural and aerodynamic analyses have been performed and prototype testing shows improved fuel efficiency and competitiveness compared to similar aircraft.
Design and Fabrication of Blended Wing Bodyvivatechijri
This document describes the design and fabrication of a blended wing body (BWB) unmanned aerial vehicle. It discusses the BWB concept and its advantages over conventional aircraft designs, including greater internal space and aerodynamic efficiency. The authors designed a BWB model made of balsa and basswood with airfoils selected for lift generation. Analysis and fabrication steps are outlined, including material selection, airfoil choice, configuration design, lift calculation using both theoretical and computational fluid dynamics methods, and manufacturing of individual parts and final assembly. The conclusions state that the designed BWB provides higher payload capacity and volume than conventional designs while enhancing the authors' technical skills.
This document provides a biography for Kei Y. Lau, a Technical Fellow at Boeing with over 34 years of experience. Mr. Lau has expertise in hypersonic aerothermodynamics, thermal management, and vehicle design integration. He has led numerous programs involving hypersonic vehicles and thermal protection systems. His current responsibilities include serving as the thermal design lead for the F/A-18 program and aerothermal lead for hypersonic demonstration programs.
The document summarizes the design of L.A.S.E.R. 5, a solar-powered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) being constructed by students. The goals are to break the world record for longest straight-line distance by a solar-powered UAV and to safely charge the onboard battery using solar panels and hydrogen fuel cells. The design process involves conceptual optimization under FAI regulations, aerodynamic and structural analysis using software, and selection of an efficient airfoil for long-range gliding performance at low speeds. The composite sailplane design incorporates lessons from previous L.A.S.E.R. iterations to advance renewable energy applications for aircraft.
Structural Weight Optimization of Aircraft Wing Component Using FEM Approach.IJERA Editor
One of the main challenges for the civil aviation industry is the reduction of its environmental impact by better fuel efficiency by virtue of Structural optimization. Over the past years, improvements in performance and fuel efficiency have been achieved by simplifying the design of the structural components and usage of composite materials to reduce the overall weight of the structure. This paper deals with the weight optimization of transport aircraft with low wing configuration. The Linear static and Normal Mode analysis were carried out using MSc Nastran & Msc Patran under different pressure conditions and the results were verified with the help of classical approach. The Stress and displacement results were found and verified and hence arrived to the conclusion about the optimization of the wing structure.
Geoffrey Wardle has over 40 years of experience in air and space research and development. His career began in 1982 with designing coatings to protect rocket engine parts from corrosion for the LEROS liquid fuel rocket engine. In the 1980s and early 1990s, he conducted structural qualification testing for components of Eurofighter Typhoon and developed test methodologies at establishments including RAE Farnborough and BAe. Currently, he is researching advanced composite airframe technologies and supersonic bomber design using simulation tools from his graduate studies.
This document discusses the conceptual design, structural analysis, and flow analysis of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) wing. It begins by providing background on UAVs and listing the design requirements and parameters for the wing. It then describes selecting a rectangular wing planform and NACA 2415 airfoil based on the design criteria. Aerodynamic analysis is conducted to determine performance parameters like lift coefficient and drag. Structural analysis of the wing is performed using two spar designs - a tubular spar with and without a strut. Maximum stresses and bending moments are calculated and compared for straight and tapered wing configurations. Flow simulation will also be conducted on the finalized wing design.
Structural dynamic analysis of bio inspired carbon polyethylene MAV wingsijmech
Flapping wing micro air vehicles (FWMAVs) are small unmanned aircrafts or flying robots which are intended to be used for surveillance, reconnaissance, biochemical sensing, targeting, tracking, etc. To perform such missions, MAVs are required to do some specific operations such as hovering; slow and high speed flying; quick landing and take-off, etc. During flapping motion through surrounding air, wings experience inertial and aerodynamic forces. For making successful flights in such conditions, wings must have properties such as flexibility, strength, low weight, long fatigue life, etc. For producing such properties, wing material plays a crucial
role. Most of the research related to MAVs is based on aerodynamics and controls. Present research is based on materials and structural aspects of flapping wings. Here materials used are carbon fibres for making wing skeleton and polyethylene for wing membrane. The design for
the wing of 113.8 mm length is inspired from giant hummingbird’s wing. The wing sketch was developed in gambit software by taking position data, generated using digitizer, from printed image of hummingbird wing. Developed sketch was printed and used, as a guide, for making the wing skeleton. The polyethylene film with adhesive was laminated on the skeleton at 150 ºC.
Natural frequencies, nature of mode shapes, and damping characteristics of fabricated wings are determined here
Heat Transfer Analysis for a Winged Reentry Flight Test BedCSCJournals
In this paper we deal with the aero-heating analysis of a reentry flight demonstrator helpful to the research activities for the design and development of a possible winged Reusable Launch Vehicle. In fact, to reduce risks in the development of next generation reusable launch vehicles, as first step it is suitable to gain deep design knowledge by means of extensive numerical computations, in particular for the aero-thermal environment the vehicle has to withstand during reentry. The demonstrator under study is a reentry space glider, to be used both as Crew Rescue Vehicle and Crew Transfer Vehicle for the International Space Station. It is designed to have large atmospheric manoeuvring capability, to test the whole path from the orbit down to subsonic speeds and then to the landing on a conventional runway. Several analysis tools are integrated in the framework of the vehicle aerothermal design. Between the others, we used computational analyses to simulate aerothermodynamic flowfield around the spacecraft and heat flux distributions over the vehicle surfaces for the assessment of the vehicle Thermal Protection System design. Heat flux distributions, provided for equilibrium conditions of radiation at wall and thermal shield emissivity equal to 0.85, highlight that the vehicle thermal shield has to withstand with about 1500 [kW/m2] and 400 [kW/m2] at nose and wing leading edge, respectively. Therefore, the fast developing new generation of thermal protection materials, such as Ultra High Temperature Ceramics, are available candidate to built the thermal shield in the most solicited vehicle parts. On the other hand, away from spacecraft leading edges, due to the low angle of attack profile followed by the vehicle during descent, the heat flux is close to values attainable with conventional heat shield. Also, the paper shows that the flying test bed is able to validate hypersonic aerothermodynamic design database and passenger experiments, including thermal shield and hot structures, giving confidence that a full-scale development can successfully proceed.
Design, Fabrication and Aerodynamic Analysis of RC Powered Aircraft WingIRJET Journal
This document describes the design, fabrication, and aerodynamic analysis of a radio-controlled aircraft wing. The researchers designed a rectangular wing with a Gottingen 526 airfoil profile using computational fluid dynamics software to analyze lift and drag coefficients. The wing structure and control surfaces were fabricated based on the optimal design parameters. Wind tunnel testing was then used to validate the aerodynamic performance and characteristics of the wing.
HydroFoil Simulation Using ANSYS FluentAhmed Gamal
The document discusses computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations performed to analyze flow around a hydrofoil. It describes the hydrofoil geometry and meshing process, which involved multiple meshing strategies to generate high quality meshes. It also covers important considerations for the CFD solver setup, such as choosing a pressure-based solver, initializing the solution, and selecting an appropriate turbulence model. The k-epsilon realizable model was used to model the fully turbulent, incompressible flow in 2D simulations of the hydrofoil at different angles of attack.
Hydrofoil Ship simulation Using Ansys FluentAhmed Gamal
This document discusses a CFD workshop report on analyzing hydrofoils for naval applications. It begins with introductions to hydrofoils, their history, and basic terminology. It then describes the specific hydrofoil being modeled, including design considerations. The document outlines the extensive meshing trials conducted to generate the computational mesh for CFD analysis. It discusses important considerations for setting up the fluid solver, including initialization parameters, turbulence models, and mesh quality. Results are then presented for two test cases of the hydrofoil design, analyzing lift and drag forces. The report concludes with notes on further optimizing the hydrofoil design based on the CFD results.
This document discusses the use of computational modeling to study hydrofoil design improvements for reducing water takeoff distances of amphibious aircraft. It provides background on challenges in amphibious aircraft design and limited prior research on using hydrofoils. The author develops a preliminary computational framework to assess hydrofoil performance and effectiveness for amphibious aircraft applications, focusing on optimizing hydrofoil position, span, and incidence angle to minimize water takeoff distance while maintaining aircraft stability. A case study applies this framework to a 10-seater amphibious aircraft concept, finding that a hydrofoil can reduce hull resistance and water takeoff distance.
In recent years, air transportation has increased between major cities. Conventional aircraft's lack fuel efficiency, high Lift to Drag (L/D) ratio, high payload carrying capacity since there has not been a major technological breakthrough in aerodynamic geometry. Hence, there has been a need to develop a new composite structure to push the boundaries of current technologies and to breathe new life into civil transportation. Blended Wing Body (BWB) bridges the gap between future requirements. The BWB configuration is a new concept in aircraft design which provides greater internal volume, aerodynamics and structural efficiency, noise reduction, and most importantly significant improvement on cost-per-seat-mile. The design approach of BWB is to maximize overall efficiency by integrating the propulsion systems, wings, and the body into a single lifting surface. BWB is a unique tailless single entity where the fuselage is merged with wing and tail. Blended wing body has flattened and airfoil surface which contributes higher lift than conventional ones. The objective of this paper is to study aerodynamic study of blended wing body layout.
The document describes the design and fabrication of a small-scale radio controlled unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for aerial photography. Key aspects of the project include:
1) The UAV will be constructed primarily of balsa wood with a wingspan of 120cm and powered by an 820kv brushless motor and 3-cell lithium polymer battery.
2) Aerodynamic and structural design calculations were performed to determine dimensions, required thrust and power, stall speed, and glide range.
3) The design and fabrication process will involve selecting an airfoil, creating CAD models, building the wing ribs and spars, assembling the fuselage, and installing electronic components before flight testing
The document summarizes a graduate student project to design and build a blended wing body aircraft called Hyperion that investigates green aircraft technologies. The project aims to reduce noise, fuel consumption, and emissions. Key aspects include a hybrid gas-electric propulsion system, autonomous flight capabilities using an autopilot, and manufacturing composite wing structures using carbon fiber. Testing will involve building half-scale prototypes and conducting flight tests to prove the aerodynamic design.
ANALYSING AND MINIMIZATION OF SONIC BOOM IN SUPERSONIC COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFTIRJET Journal
This document discusses the analysis and minimization of sonic booms for a supersonic commercial aircraft. It describes calculating aerodynamic and structural properties of the aircraft, as well as modeling the aircraft in CATIA and performing computational fluid dynamics analysis in ANSYS Fluent. The document summarizes methods for approximating the sonic boom using Carlson theory and Sea Bass. It aims to design an aircraft that can achieve a cruise speed of Mach 1.6 over 4600km with a sonic boom overpressure of 0.547 psf and duration of 0.3 seconds.
The document describes the SOLSTICE hybrid propulsion system being designed by students for a blended wing-body aircraft called Hyperion. The goal is to design, build, integrate and test a hybrid combustion/electric propulsion system that allows the aircraft to operate in different flight modes (cruise, quiet, dash) using the electric motor and internal combustion engine separately or together. The SOLSTICE system uses a patent-pending gearbox to combine the torque from the electric motor and internal combustion engine to drive a single propeller. Analytical models were created during the design process to ensure the system can provide sufficient power for the aircraft.
This paper discusses the processes involved in the additive manufacturing of a regenerative and film-cooled liquid rocket engine with a thrust of 10 kN using Inconel 718, while detailing validation techniques. A description of the objectives and design constraints provide the context and motivations. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) models were developed and provided the expected pressure and thermal regimes under regenerative and film cooling. Additionally, Finite Element (FE) models were used to predict the capabilities of the engine structure. A description of 3D printing methods highlights the benefits and limitations of the technology, specifically the influence the design of liquid rocket engines. A pintle injector is used, printed as a separate, easily removable and replaceable component. Issues related to overhangs, surface roughness, and shrinkage; aspects related to post-print processing and the need to minimize machining are discussed. Results from the CT scans of the engine and its components are presented. The paper also outlines the series of tests that will be performed on this engine to verify its performance and provide design basis for future works. This engine will be used to power the reusable flight vehicle that is under development at the Kyushu Institute of Technology in Japan. The student-led Liquid Propulsion Laboratory at the University of Southern California is responsible for the work detailed below.
The document describes the development of a wireless cut-down system for high altitude balloons (HABs) conducted by Brendan Batliner and Milan Shah at the Adler Planetarium. The system uses Arduino microcontrollers and XBee wireless transceivers to allow sensors on the HAB payload to communicate wirelessly and trigger a cut-down based on programmed conditions. Testing confirmed the low-power wireless system could reliably trigger a cut-down. A Kalman filter was also developed to increase sensor accuracy by reducing noise. The wireless, modular cut-down system allows for more efficient flight control and expansion to integrate additional sensors.
Similar to AIAA 2012 878 312 Hyperion Green Aircraft (20)
Jean Koster is looking for part- or full-time opportunities in design engineering. She has over 30 years of experience in aerospace engineering, including as a professor emeritus at the University of Colorado where she conducted research in systems engineering and aerospace materials. She has also served as Chief Technology Officer and President of companies developing hybrid aircraft engine systems. Koster has a Doctorate and Diploma in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Karlsruhe in Germany and over 100 publications in her field.
AREND: A sensor aircraft to support wildlife rangersJean Koster
The document describes the design of an unmanned aerial system called AREND to support wildlife rangers in South Africa. AREND is being designed by an international student team to conduct remote surveillance of large parks using sensors to detect poachers and monitor rhino populations. The aircraft is an electric fixed-wing design that can carry sensor payloads for over 90 minutes of flight. Sensors will include day/night cameras and infrared to detect humans and rhinos from the air. The system also includes a ground sensor network to transmit data to rangers and help locate poaching threats on the ground.
Jean N. Koster is Professor Emeritus of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Colorado at Boulder, specializing in systems engineering. Over his 28-year career at CU Boulder, he focused on developing hands-on curricula for sophomore students and a rigorous senior design program emphasizing systems engineering and teamwork. He has extensive experience in materials science, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and experimental technologies. As a professor, he mentored dozens of undergraduate and graduate student design teams, including pioneering teams that developed hybrid propulsion solutions for aircraft.
Dr. Jean N. Koster is a Professor Emeritus of Aerospace Engineering Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder. He has over 35 years of experience in research and teaching in fields related to fluid mechanics, materials science, and alternative energy systems. Some of his notable achievements include developing experimental technologies in fields like particle image velocimetry, leading experiments aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia, and receiving over $3.2 million in research funding. He has also founded two startup companies focused on hybrid propulsion systems and has received several awards for his research and teaching work.
Jean N. Koster is a researcher whose work can be found on Researchgate, where she provides links to her published research papers. She is also currently working on a project called AREND, which has a website providing more details about this initiative.
The document outlines plans for the AREND aircraft's critical design review. It discusses the project objectives of finding poachers in the Kruger National Park before they kill. The concept of operations involves the aircraft searching sectors within the park from launch stations. Subsystems that will be reviewed include embedded systems/control/communication, on-board sensors, power/propulsion, fuselage, wings/tail, and testing integration. Risks like schedule delays and budget issues will also be addressed.
An international student team led by the University of Colorado at Boulder is designing an unmanned aerial system called AREND to help protect endangered species in South Africa from poachers. AREND will use sensors to detect humans and large animals and will provide aerial surveillance to conservation efforts. The team is collaborating with universities in Finland, South Africa, Germany as well as companies to build and test AREND, which aims to more efficiently monitor wildlife and reduce poaching of rhinos and elephants.
The document summarizes an international collaboration between universities in Colorado, Germany, and Australia to design an unmanned aerial vehicle called the Hyperion. The goals of the project are to investigate new technologies for improved efficiencies, practice global collaboration in education, and design a hybrid propulsion system. Key aspects of the collaboration include distributed design and manufacturing of components across countries and using virtual tools like simulation to facilitate integration with components in different locations.
This document provides an overview of a student project to design an electric-hybrid aircraft called Hyperion. A 32-member global team from various universities collaborated on the project using a "follow-the-sun" concept to maximize work hours. The project goals were to design and build an aircraft to investigate new technologies for improved efficiency and capabilities, and to practice international academic collaboration. The aircraft design incorporated a blended wing body with a hybrid-electric engine. The team conducted extensive testing and validation of the various subsystems to integrate them into a functional prototype aircraft. Lessons learned emphasized the challenges of global collaboration, composite manufacturing, software integration, and testing complex systems.
The document proposes a Solar Power Satellite Demonstration System (SOPOSADES) to evaluate providing solar power from orbiting satellites to a lunar outpost. A key goal is establishing energy infrastructure before astronauts land. SOPOSADES would consist of an orbiter satellite collecting solar energy and beaming it to a lander receiver at the lunar outpost, providing 12 kW for life support, research, and resource utilization. Design considerations include orbital parameters, solar collection technologies, energy transmission methods, and subsystem requirements to demonstrate feasibility for future lunar and Mars bases.
The Hyperion project was an international collaboration between universities in Colorado, Germany, and Australia to design, build, and test an unmanned aerial vehicle. The project used a "follow the sun" model where each team worked in 8 hour shifts to allow for near-continuous development. Students gained experience in global project management, green aviation technologies, and systems engineering skills through the design and manufacturing of the blended wing body aircraft. Final flight testing was conducted by the global team in Colorado in April 2011.
This itinerary provides Jean Koster's schedule for the 50th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting from January 9-12, 2012. It lists presentations given by Jean Koster on solar power satellite demonstration systems on January 10th, the Hyperion 2 green aircraft project on January 11th, and the Hyperion UAV international collaboration on January 12th. The itinerary also provides session details and allows online access to the full meeting schedule.
The document lists several YouTube videos about the development of the Hyperion aircraft project. The videos discuss the international collaboration in creating the aircraft, as well as University of Colorado Aerospace Engineers winning an award for their work. Contact information is provided for the project's lead, Prof. Jean Koster of the University of Colorado Boulder Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department.
The University of Colorado at Boulder's Aerospace Engineering Sciences Capstone Senior Design Program provides students with real-world engineering projects sponsored by industry customers. Students work in self-directed teams over two semesters to complete projects involving mechanical, electrical, and software elements. Past projects include designing hybrid rocket engines and unmanned aerial vehicles. The program aims to teach students practical engineering skills like project management while exposing them to industry professionals and mentors. Sponsors benefit from the students' work and have the opportunity to mentor potential future employees.
Aes Sd Customer Guidelines 2009 Word To Pdf FinalJean Koster
This document provides guidelines for customers sponsoring senior design projects for aerospace engineering students at the University of Colorado Boulder. It outlines the course structure and content, expectations for customer participation and support, and deliverables that will be provided to customers. Customers are asked to commit a minimum of $20,000 for "Minimum Support" projects or $35,000 for "Customer Ownership" projects to cover project costs and department resources. In return, customers receive mentorship opportunities and all student work including final reports and presentations. The goal is to provide students with a meaningful, real-world design experience while obtaining valuable customer input and deliverables.
2. The newly-designed, 2nd generation Hyperion aircraft moves away from a flying wing classification and into the
blended-wing category with increased sweep wings. The aircraft shall demonstrate efficiency improvements over
conventional designs and serves as a platform for a unique hybrid engine development. This paper highlights the
design evolution of the Hyperion Project and unveils the second generation Hyperion aircraft designs.
II. 1st Generation Aerodynamic Design
Blended-wing body (BWB) aerodynamic design has been thought by many to be the future of subsonic air
transport. A number of vehicles, including the NASA/Boeing X-48B, promise estimated fuel savings of as much as
30%, increased cargo capacity, and reduced acoustic signature compared to traditional “tube and wing” aircraft.3-6 In
order to build upon the improvements demonstrated in past designs, the Hyperion was initially inspired by
NASA/Boeing X-48B, but later fully optimised for the slower flight regime of the design mission. The primary
drivers were an optimal lift distribution for high lift to drag ratio and good handling qualities over the entire flight
envelope. The result was an entirely new aircraft architecture with significantly reduced wing sweep compared to
transonic designs which improved the maximum lift coefficient of the platform shown in Fig. 1.
The first generation aircraft had a 3 m wingspan, weighed
approximately 19 kg fully-loaded, and cruised at a velocity of
approximately 30 m/s. It was statically and dynamically stable
in all axes except for slight spiral mode instability. A single
rear elevator, two ailerons, and two rudders sufficiently
control the aircraft—a large decrease in complexity over the
X-48, which can exceed 20 control surfaces in some
configurations.4 An iterative optimization script was
developed in XFoil, Athena Vortex Lattice (AVL), and Figure 1. Hyperion 1.0 Configuration. Picture
MATLAB software to optimize wingtip design. The final of the completed Hyperion1 flying wing airframe.
design employed raked wingtips, which achieved increased
span efficiency and L/D without increasing the risk of stall at low Reynolds numbers. A twin vertical tail was
selected using similar methodology, while considering directional stability and piloting simplicity.
The baseline configuration design was done by the Sydney team using 2-d and 3-d panel methods to meet the
requirements defined by the Colorado team.7 A half scale model was then tested in the Sydney wind tunnel on a two
axis balance designed for this project. The University of Stuttgart team performed a 3-d computational fluid
dynamics (CFD) simulation using the DLR Tau code to provide high-fidelity modeling and analysis of the airframe.
The CFD data was compared to the wind tunnel results with good agreement. Therefore the CFD data can be used in
the future to explore design changes and obtain aerodynamic derivatives and stall patterns without the need of costly
wind tunnel work for each modification.
III. 2nd Generation Aerodynamic Design
Two successive architectures of the Hyperion aircraft have been designed, Hyperion 1.0 and 2.0. Hyperion 1.0
featured a narrow leading edge sweep angle and raked wingtips to achieve increased span efficiency and L/D
without the risk of stall at low Reynolds numbers. The Hyperion 1.0 design proved to be aerodynamically efficient,
reaching a maximum L/D approaching 20. However, the Hyperion 1.0 design geometry could not be considered a
true blended wing body. A new architecture (Figure 2) was developed featuring redesigned wings to favor a true
blended wing body configuration: sweep angle, taper, and twist were optimized so that stall first occurs at the
midwing. The original model’s center body was kept and new wings were designed to blend geometrically while
maintaining structural integrity.8,9 The 16 kilogram, 3.2 meter wingspan aircraft has the same designed cruise
velocity and wing loading as the first generation model.
The aircraft geometry was developed to support a wing loading of 10 kg/m2 and achieve a cruise speed of
30 m/s. Final comparative parameters are listed in Table 1. Next, various airfoils were investigated using the Airfoil
Investigation Database (AID) and different combinations for the wings and center body were optimized in the
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3. modeling program Athena Vortex Lattice. Airfoils were chosen to meet BWB specifications: high t/c, negative
camber for pitch stability, and high L/D for low Reynolds numbers.
Table 1: Original and New Aircraft Parameters
Hyperion 1.0 Hyperion 2.0
0.85 ~1
16 ~18
13.04 m/s (29.2 mph) 13.2 m/s (29.5 mph)
17.9 m/s (40.04 mph) 15.8 m/s (35.4 mph)
27 m/s (60.4 mph) 30 m/s (67 mph)
1.648 m2 (17.74 ft2) 1.693 m2 (18.22 ft2)
3.0 m (9.84 ft) 3.2 m (10.5 ft)
20 kg (44.1 lb) 16 kg (35 lb)
10.4 kg/m2 9.45 kg/m2
ΛLE 17° 35°
A unique aspect of the Hyperion 1.0 design was the raked wingtips, implemented to minimize induced drag and
profile drag at cruise speed. Raked wings were preferred over winglets due to a Reynolds number of 550,000.
Hyperion 1.0 was designed to contain three different control surfaces: flaps for roll, rudders for yaw, and a single
elevator for pitch stability. Two vertical stabilizers were chosen for the configuration to avoid splitting the elevator.
A V-tail would be more stable during spiral and dutch roll modes but the flight mechanics as well as manufacturing
are more complex but a U-tail has the advantage of less wetted area and less structural complexity; therefore, the U-
tail design was chosen. The control surfaces were sized based on recommendations from Raymer10 and kept at the
upper limit in order to reduce the required angle of deflection.
For Hyperion 2.0 critical parameters for achieving a BWB configuration were changed and combinations iterated
in AVL. Most notably, the leading edge sweep angle was increased by 12°. An analysis was done to determine if
raked wings or winglets would help the aerodynamic stability or increase L/D of the new architecture. A raked wing
geometry with a chord distribution of y(span)=4x(chord) was used with Hyperion 1.0 with a chord of 0.3 m at b=1.2
and a sharp ending at b=1.5. A geometrical dihedral of 6° was used. AVL analysis showed a slightly higher L/D at
15.5 for the raked wing model as compared to the flat wing model with an L/D at 15.4. No significant change was
observed in any mode of the root locus. Comparing the lift distributions of the 2.0 model with raked wings and the
same model with flat wings suggested that raked wings bring the stall area slightly farther inward, toward the center
body. This is less desirable, since the stall area needs to occur on the mid-wing for a blended wing body. Even
though the raked wings provide a slightly better aerodynamic advantage with the higher lift to drag ratio, the added
structural weight and manufacturing complexity outweighed the benefit, and flat wings were ultimately favored for
Hyperion 2.0.
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4. Figure 2: Wing Redesign Modifications. Hyperion 1.0 Flying Wing left. Hyperion 2.0 BWB on right.
The existing center body’s U-tail as well as its corresponding control surfaces were implemented with the new
architecture. The addition of separate flaps and ailerons to the new Hyperion wing surfaces are an improvement to
the former design. The flap design from Hyperion 1.0 was reused, keeping the chord fraction at 20 percent;
however, the flaps were shifted in the spanwise direction to allow for aileron placement at the wing tips. Design of
the ailerons depends on the roll rate: the number of degrees per second the aircraft can withstand during a roll turn.
For this aircraft, a roll rate of 30 deg/s was selected from the upper limit roll rate for similarly sized RC aircraft. This
is a much higher value than is expected to be experienced during flight. Spanwise locations and chord fractions of
the ailerons were iterated until they produced a roll angle helix greater than what is desired.
The Hyperion 2.0 design demonstrated the key characteristics of a blended wing body in its lift distribution. The
full line in Figure 3 below shows the lift distribution of the original model as lift per unit span (dashed line = cl).
Here, stall first occurs at the wingtips with localized stall close to the center body/wing interface. The Hyperion 2.0
model, shown in Figure 4 achieves a much more elliptical lift distribution with stall occurring at the midwing, as
desired for a true BWB. Initial AVL analysis shows an L/D of 17, closely matching AVL’s output for the original
Hyperion model, which demonstrated a higher value with experimental and high fidelity modeling data. However,
AVL’s results are rudimentary and do not take into account vorticity effects. More accurate validation of lift and
drag characteristics will be confirmed with future CFD analysis.
Figure 3: Lift Distribution Hyperion 1.0. Solid Line represents the
lift per unit span. Dashed Line represents local lift coefficient CL.
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5. Figure 4: Lift Distribution Hyperion 2.0. Solid Line represents the
lift per unit span. Dashed Line represents local lift coefficient CL.
Once the final aerodynamic design was completed, the controls team could use the stability derivatives and
eigenvalues to begin accurately simulating the new Hyperion model. The most important stability derivatives are
summarized below in Table 2, along with the predicted L/D value of 16.7 from AVL. All values were verified to be
within a reasonable range for this size and type of aircraft. The lift curve slope was analyzed for the previous model
and was shown to be 4.09 experimentally. For Hyperion 2.0, it is slightly lower but still acceptable at 3.98
calculated.
Table 2: Stability Derivatives Summary
Parameter Value
3.982
-0.368
0.02178
-0.03676
-0.3628
5.153
0.0470
L/D 16.7
The eigenmodes, shown in terms of damping and natural frequency, were determined from an AVL root locus
output and are summarized in Table 3. An improvement from last year is that the spiral mode and dutch roll mode
are dynamically stable. The rolling mode damping increased but the addition of ailerons helps to mitigate that effect.
More accurate computer modeling is expected to refine and verify these parameters.
Table 3: Eigenmodes Summary
Mode Damping (ζ) Natural
Frequency (ω)
Dutch Roll -0.395 5.248
Dutch Roll -0.395 -5.248
Roll -20.19 0
Short Period -5.532 8.436
Short Period -5.532 -8.436
Spiral -0.0414 0.386
Spiral -0.0414 -0.386
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6. IV. Propulsion Design
Hyperion is intended to provide a test vehicle for a novel hybrid propulsion system11 developed at the University
of Colorado in 2009-2010, currently licensed by Tigon Enertec, Inc. The second-generation of the hybrid propulsion
system12 was developed concurrently by a team of undergraduates during AY2010/2011. The team utilized Tigon
EnerTec, Inc.’s patent-pending gearing system to seamlessly blend the torque from an internal combustion engine
and an electric motor, which are arranged in an in-line configuration to maintain symmetry. This configuration is
termed “parallel hybrid,” since each motor operates independently and additively, rather than the traditional serial
hybrid systems commonly found in automobiles.
Currently, hybrid propulsion systems for aircraft are nearly nonexistent. However, implementation of this
parallel hybrid technology could have a variety of benefits spanning multiple fields of aviation. An aircraft that is
able to utilize a traditional, high-efficiency combustion system during normal flight and then transition to a quiet
electric motor during landing would greatly alleviate noise pollution that is rampant at today’s airports. This same
hybrid application would allow for reduced acoustic signature of a UAV over a target area. This technology could
provide increased safety for general aviation applications, where engine failure is the root cause of an inexcusable
number of accidents.13 Furthermore, using a smaller ICE that is sized for optimal operation at cruise and providing
additional required power from the EM, the engine has demonstrated fuel savings of approximately 15%. This
propulsion system allows for the aircraft to fulfill concepts of operations of both long-endurance and quiet-loiter
UAV platforms without sacrificing performance.
A lack of maturity of the second-generation hybrid system prevented integration for initial flight testing with
Hyperion 1.0. Since, the hybrid propulsion system has been successfully bench-tested in the concentric shaft
configuration, including reliable remote-restart of the internal combustion engine and is to be flown on Hyperion 2.0
aircraft in 2012 after initial flight tests are conducted on a RASCAL model airplane.
The Hyperion aircraft has been designed to cruise at 30 m/s. A curve relating cruise velocity with internal
combustion engine power requirement was plotted using Mathematica. This plot is given in Figure 5. For the
Hyperion aircraft to cruise at 30 m/s at the altitude of Boulder, CO with a propulsion system efficiency of 0.7, the
required calculated engine power is 1.04 HP. Chosen will be a propulsion system that has at least 2 HP to offer some
factor of safety.
Figure 5: Required Power Curve
V. Structural Design
In order to minimize the mass of the aircraft, the vast majority of Hyperion is constructed from composite
materials. The design for a one of the primary structural components—the wing spar—can be optimized, since
BWB aircraft typically have highly elliptic lift distributions. 3-5 Two carbon-fiber spars to bear the loads in each
wing, and transfer stress to four carbon-fiber foam-core ribs to form the internal structure, shown in Fig. 6.
These ribs also serve to maintain the aerodynamic shape of the skin. Minimal rib deflection was desired to
prevent buckling of the fiberglass skin, so finite element analysis (FEA) was performed to validate rib and spar
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7. integrity with safety margins against expected loads. FEA results increased confidence that the internal structure
would provide the required rigidity. The max deflection was determined by setting the ratio of max deflection to
span length equal to 0.025 (Figure 7). This ratio was determined based on information from Tam14 and not wanting
the spar to be too rigid nor too flexible. The rib structure was shipped to Stuttgart where the team manufactured the
molds and the skin for this center body wingelement.7,8
Figure 6. Internal Structure Assembly.
Figure 7. Internal Structure Assembly. Deformation and load on the center body rib under flight loads.
A driving force for Hyperion 2.0 is a focus on redesigning the internal structure of the aircraft wings to
minimize weight while maintaining the structural integrity. To achieve this, the material of the wing spars was
changed from Dragon Plate carbon fiber tubes to Dragon Plate Airex foam core. The foam core has a lower tensile
strength than the carbon fiber tubes but the density of the foam core is significantly less than that of the carbon fiber
tubes. To accommodate for decreased material strength the support for the leading edge of the wing was chosen to
be a C-spar configuration. To create this spar, three pieces of foam core will be bonded together. These three pieces
will form the vertical portion of the C-spar and the two “legs.” In addition to providing increased strength, the shape
of the C-spar will help prevent torsion and shear. At periodic intervals along the wing, ribs will be attached to the
spar and aircraft skin, also helping to provide support and prevent shearing. These ribs will also be made of Dragon
Plate Airex foam core. One half of the internal structure of the aircraft is shown in the Figure 8.
Figure 8: New Hyperion 2.0 BWB wing spar structure.
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8. VI. Electronics and Flight Control
The Hyperion also serves as a platform for advanced flight control system testing. A system was designed to
combine pilot control input with onboard guidance, navigation, and control data to successfully fly the aircraft. Two
onboard batteries and a consumer off-the-shelf (COTS) R/C communication and data logging system support this
function. The control system architecture is
developed and modeled in the
MATLAB/Simulink environment for simulation
and development. FAA regulations severely
restrict flight testing university-developed
autonomous UAVs, so preliminary Hyperion
flight testing was conducted in a reliable R/C
only mode. An FAA certificate of authorization
is being pursued to allow for future autonomous
flight testing.
As flight control code matures and hardware is
acquired, hardware-in-loop (HIL) tests are Figure 9. Flight Control Architecture. Diagram of control
performed to verify and improve models, baseline for future autonomous flight.
optimize controller performance, and to identify
and debug integration issues. Upon successful integration of the flight code and hardware on a test bench, the code
is recompiled into an embedded format and loaded onto the aircraft for additional bench testing and flight test.
The flight controller will perform stability augmentation using state variable feedback (SVF), where the aircraft
states are monitored by two onboard sensors. This control scheme allows for the computer to make updates to
aircraft attitude rapidly in order to more accurately track pilot input commands. 7 A block diagram illustrating the
control system architecture is presented in Figure 9. This flight control system forms the foundation for the flight
computer that will fly the Hyperion autonomously the next Spring.
The GNC subsystem of Hyperion 2.0 will equip the UAV with the capability of flying autonomously or by R/C
pilot (Figure 10). Furthermore, the GNC subsystem provides the UAV with the ability to downlink telemetry, air
speed, position as well as real-time fuel flow rate data, brake during landing, and control the mode actuators and
throttle of the hybrid engine12 or alternatively a common internal combustion engine. The commercial-off-the-shelf
Cloud Cap Technology Piccolo SL autopilot is a complete integrated avionics system for UAVs. It satisfies all
autonomous and R/C functional requirements. The National Instruments SB Rio has been programmed to control the
hybrid engine and fuel flow sensor with custom software. The following Figure 10 displays the Piccolo SL system
architecture as it interfaces with the aircraft.
Radio Piccolo Actuator Hyperion
SL s
Uplink & Kalman Filter Sensors
Downlink
Ground Futaba
Station
Autonomous Commands
and Settings Piccolo Status
PC
and flight plan
Figure 10: Piccolo control system.
The Piccolo uses latitude, longitude, and altitude to define waypoints and performs a pre-turn algorithm to
estimate when the aircraft should begin turning to the next waypoint. This algorithm causes the aircraft to turn prior
to direct flyover of the waypoint, but can be turned off if desired.
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9. The software interfaces are used for Software in the Loop (SiL) simulation tests. The SiL configuration provides
the same functionality as a Hardware-in-Loop (HiL) setup, but without the autopilot and ground station hardware
connected. In the SiL configuration (Figure 11), PC applications take the place of the ground station and autopilot.
The simulation environment allows the aircraft control laws and mission functionality to be tested without risking
the aircraft in a flight test. The simulation environment provides an ideal training tool that can be used in the lab.
Although simulation cannot replace flight-testing, it measurably reduces the likelihood of failure by detecting bugs
and deficiencies before the aircraft and related hardware are put at risk.
Figure 11. SiL flowchart
The hardware-in-the-loop (HiL), Figure 12, simulation environment allows the aircraft control laws and mission
functionality to be tested without risking the aircraft in a flight test. The simulation environment provides an ideal
training tool that can be used in the lab. Although simulation cannot replace flight-testing, it measurably reduces the
likelihood of failure by detecting bugs and deficiencies before the aircraft and related hardware are put at risk.
During HIL simulation the Piccolo Command Center sends user commands to the ground station, which are then
sent to the Piccolo autopilot. The simulator reads the actuator positions from the Piccolo, applies them to an aircraft
dynamics model, calculates new sensor data, and sends it back to the Piccolo. Piccolo sends telemetry data to the
grounds station, which is then sent to the Piccolo Command Center. Location and orientation information are sent to
FlightGear™ software for visualization.
Figure 12. HiL flowchart
The simulator communicates with the Piccolo in real time and runs as a real time application. The Piccolo SL will
be in control of the aircraft during autonomous flight. This means that the Piccolo must be able to “communicate”
with the control surfaces, the engine, the brakes, and all data acquisition. In order for all of these to happen the
Piccolo must be properly integrated with the various subsystems such as: structures, propulsion, and electronics.
VII. Manufacturing
In order to best simulate industry practices in manufacturing, the University of Colorado subcontracted several
critical components of the aircraft to the University of Stuttgart. The student team at Stuttgart contributed expertise
in composite manufacturing as they have also a myriad of cutting-edge composite manufacturing facilities on
campus. The internal structure of carbon-fiber spars and ribs of the center body was manufactured by the University
of Colorado and shipped to Germany in February of 2011, where the fiberglass skin was applied to rib and spar
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10. assembly to form the center body, illustrated in Figure 13.7 This manufacturing schedule allowed the University of
Colorado team to fabricate the two wings in parallel with the center body fabrication in Germany.
Figure 13. Integration of Center Body.7 Ribs
and spar assembled into center body skin mold
in Stuttgart, Germany.
The primary goal of having a completed aircraft after 9 months meant that integration and schedule were major
project risks. Effort was put into mitigating schedule risk through determination, long hours, and hard work, with
only minor reductions in project scope. N-Squared diagrams of all subsystem interfaces were developed to outline
subsystem dependencies. Interface Dimension Templates (IDT) were provided to ensure precise integration and
joining of parts manufactured in two locations. Both teams manufactured their respective components to match the
identical templates, which allowed for seamless interfacing of components during the final assembly.
After a final flight readiness review, the Hyperion aircraft successfully underwent a series of runway tests to
verify stability on the landing gear. The first flight of the Hyperion 1.0 aircraft was successful; lastly because of
adjustments coming from the intensive testing done with cheap half-scale models.
The first generation Hyperion wings were constructed using a positive mold method. This proved very inefficient
and tedious. The second generation Hyperion 2.0 BWB wings for the center body will be manufactured at Colorado
from a negative mold similar to the center body method. Flight testing is expected in April 2012.
VIII. Conclusion
The Hyperion project successfully demonstrated the ability of three international universities to design,
manufacture and test a novel aircraft architecture in a
single academic year (Figure 14). The international
collaboration became a great learning experience for the
students involved, and was considered a complete
success by project sponsors. The vehicle continues to
serve as a platform for high-efficiency aerodynamics
studies and innovative hybrid propulsion testing.
The reader may view video footage about the project
Figure 14. Hyperion 1.0 taking off. on YouTube™.15 Additional flight testing with the new
Hyperion 2.0 with hybrid propulsion system and internal
combustion engine is planned for Spring of 2012.
Acknowledgments
The participation of the following students is highly appreciated: Joshua Barnes, Kristen Brenner, Andrew Brewer,
Michaela Cui, Tyler Drake, Corrina Gibson, Chelsea Goodman, Derek Hillery, Cody Humbargar, Nathan Jastram,
Mark Johnson, Michael Johnson, Eric Kenney, Jeremy Klammer, Mikhail Kosyan, Arthur Kreuter, Gavin Kutil,
Trevor Kwan, Justin Lai, Andrew McCloskey, Brett Miller, Derek Nasso, Boris Papazov, Corey Packard, Taylor
Petersen, David Pfeifer, Marcus Rahimpour, Jonas Schwengler, Julie Price, Eric Serani, Gauravdev Soin, Baris
Tunali, Robert Mays Whitehill, Tom Wiley, Byron Wilson, Richard Zhao.
The discussions and support of the following people is highly appreciated: Michael Kisska, Frank Doerner, Blaine
Rawdon, Tom Hagan, Bob Liebeck, Steven Yahata, and Norman Princen of The Boeing Company; Diane Dimeff
of eSpace; Les Makepeace of Tigon EnerTec Inc., Trent Yang of RASEI, Joseph Tanner, Donna Gerren, Eric Frew,
Matt Rhode, Trudy Schwartz of CU.
10
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
11. Claus-Dieter Munz, Ewald Kraemer, Martin Arenz, Holger Kurz, David Pfeifer and Matthias Seitz from the
University of Stuttgart. KC Wong, Dries Verstraete, and Kai Lehmkuehler from the University of Sydney.
In addition to university support, the project was supported by the following industry partners: The Boeing
Company, eSpace Inc., NASA grant NNX09AF65G, and Tigon EnerTec, Inc. The German team was supported by
Plandienst (Germany), the Erich-Becker-Foundation and the ―Verein der Freunde der Luft- und Raumfahrttechnik
der Universität Stuttgart e.V.I association.
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985272-6-8, pp. 955-979.
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Koster, J.N., Balaban, S. Brewer, A., Goodman, C., Hillery, D., Humbargar, C., et al. Hyperion: Flying Wing Aircraft
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optimized lifting system, transitional internal combustion engine, to be presented at AIAA-ASM, Nashville, January 2012.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OM825EZGhS0 and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2qjvbLs_t0
11
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics