1. The Moving Mass Glider
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Faculty Mentor: Professor Kenneth D. Mease
Graduate Student: Kamil Samaan
Presentation by: Silvestre Pineda

2. Presentation Outline
• Introduction
– Research Question
– Past Research
– Objectives
• Method
– Materials
– Procedure
• Results
– Findings
• Discussion
– Importance
• Questions

3. Is controlling a flight vehicle using a moving
mass feasible and if so, what are the important
design features?
• Past Work
– Jets and their ability to turn sharp corners in the air
• Possible due to its fuel being moved to cause instability
• With less stability there is more maneuverability
• Objectives
– To demonstrate and improve understanding of moving mass
control of flight using a small-scale R/C airplane
– Using same theory only applied in a different manner
• Changing the center of gravity to cause instability as before, but instead of
using liquid we would use solid masses

4. Thinking Process
• Design
– Moving mass
• Will consist of propulsion batteries and will be removable/adjustable
• Position will be determined using voltage measurement
– The Plane
• Will have the ability to alter its center of gravity
• Will have higher stability on takeoff and landing
• Will reduce stability on turns to maximize maneuverability
• SolidWorks modeling
– Create a model of the glider without winglets
– Get measurements of the wing
– Understand where the cuts will be made to insert the moving mass
– Make models of the winglets and motor mount
– Assemble the parts on the program to see how it will come out

5. What you need
• Materials
– Computer Numerically Controlled
(CNC) Machine
– Low density foam
– Fiber Glass
– Carbon Fiber
– Mylar
– Wax Paper
– 77 Spray Adhesive
– Epoxy
– Bagging Material

6. Let’s Begin Working On It!
• Wing Procedure
– Cut and clean measured pieces of Mylar and wax paper
– Spray 77 adhesive on wax paper and stick it onto the fiber glass
– Cut piece and wet it with epoxy
– Create a bag
– Cover foam with wet fiber glass
– Cover the fiber glass with Mylar and insert into pressurized bag

7. Let’s Begin Working On It!
• Motor Mount Procedure
– Same as wing procedure, but
using carbon fiber
• Winglet Procedure
– Same as wing procedure

8. Bring It All Together
• Wing Procedure after drying process
– Cut wing to desired shape
– Cut out holes for moving mass structure and motor mount
– Add control surface
• Motor Mount Procedure after drying process
– File motor mount to desired shape
– Drill holes for attachment
– Epoxy and screw it onto glider
• Winglets Procedure after drying process
– Sand until aligned with the main wing
– Add control surface and servo
– Epoxy it onto the main wing

9. Bring It All Together
Wing after drying process
Motor Mount after drying
process
Winglet after drying process

10. Results
• Thus far we have created a R/C plane that can controllably
fly
• It has a space for the moving mass structure to be inserted
• Have a design for the moving mass structure and have
begun building it

11. Importance?
• Goals of the research
– Make aircrafts more stable during take-off and landing
– Increase aircraft maneuverability
• Real life applications
– A flying object designed to fly like a bird for stealth
missions
– When airplanes enter a downward spiral, altering the
center of gravity would allow them to gain control
– Having the ability to turn on short notices while flying
– Makes plane smoother, which decreases drag

12. Questions?