A Flexible Wing Unmanned Aerial Research System

Document Number: 2009-01-3127

Date Published: November 2009

Author(s):
Biagio Imperatore - CIRA
Ludovico Vecchione - CIRA

Abstract:
CIRA is currently designing an Unmanned Aerial Research System, featuring high structural flexibility and light weight, code named HAPD. The project is framed within the Italian Aerospace Research Program, under the "UAV" Chapter.

This UAS is mainly aimed at developing and validating advanced modeling methodologies for flexible aircrafts, where structural natural frequencies may overlap with flight dynamics frequencies. This peculiar condition challenges the command and control logics, as it requires an accurate modeling of the elastic behavior of the aircraft together with an actuation policy able to guarantee that maneuvering will not result in structural modes excitation. The vehicle will be given both remote piloting functions, either fully direct or mediated by a stability and control augmentation system, and fully autonomous flight capabilities.

This UAS will also be used to provide CIRA and the whole scientific community with a valuable testing platform to support validation of flight technologies and carry out flight testing.

File Size: 249K
Product Status: In Stock

See other papers presented at SAE 2009 AeroTech Congress & Exhibition, November 2009, Seattle, WA, USA, Session: Unmanned Aerial Systems - Flight Sciences (Part 1 of 3)

Purchase more technical papers and save! With TechSelect, you decide what SAE Technical Papers you need, when you need them, and how much you want to pay. Learn more >