This paper presents an analysis of close proximity aerodynamics and aircraft dynamics of two Linked UAVs. As the
UAVs approach each other for wingtip docking there will be strong aerodynamic coupling between their wings tips.
Lifting line and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation as well as wind tunnel testing of close proximity
effects on lift, drag, roll, pitch and yaw moments for two UAV wings has been performed. The proximity aerodynamics
effects between the UAVs wings were analyzed as a function of its relative position in all three directions. A look-up
library of aerodynamic forces and moments for relative positions and angles of attack between the two UAVs has been
developed. In this study we examined how the close proximity aerodynamics affects the dynamics and stability of the
UAVs. The aircraft dynamics analysis is done in Simulink, which will include the close proximity aerodynamic look-up library. An aerodynamic disturbance intensity field will be generated, utilizing both simulation and wind tunnel data, to determine a trajectory for the two UAVs to approach each other for docking.
This paper will present the effect of the vehicle dynamics of an aircraft with shape changing wings. The
aerodynamic forces will be calculated using a 3D aerodynamic model developed that utilizes a modern adaptation of
Prandtl's lifting-line method which can be used for wings of arbitrary camber, sweep and dihedral. The method will be
applied to analyze the dynamics of different out-of-plane wing configuration of interest for morphing aircraft
application. One particular wing configuration of interest is the wing configuration that has two sections, an out-of-plane
dihedral section and a horizontal configuration, like a V shape wing configuration. An investigation as to how the partial
dihedral will affect the dynamics of the vehicle, in turning is performed. A Comparison for symmetric and asymmetric
wing configurations is performed.
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