AFC-Enabled V/STOL for UAS - From Wind Tunnel to Flight Test Demonstrator
Abstract
This program will mature active flow control technologies to flight ready status for demonstration on a tail-sitter UAS (group 1-3). This complex program will begin with a wind tunnel testing campaign to down select from the large parameters space associated withintegration and evaluation of the AFC concepts with the candidate vehicle design. In addition to the wind tunnel testing, actuator design, development, and maturation will be performed to provide accurate AFC performance models and input conditions for flight model development. A 6-DOF model of the vehicle to be used in developing control laws to demonstrate hover, and hover in gusting crosswinds. In parallel with these efforts, a conventionally controlled vehicle will be developed to allow for early demonstration of hover and serve as a systems integration platform. Finally, a demonstration vehicle will be constructed for free-flight hover testing, thus providing a closed-loop validation of the AFC performance predictions, and a demonstration of their capabilities of controlling a UAS in a challenging environment relevant to the mission of the Navy.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Mar 03, 2023
- Source ID
- N000142312295
Entities
People
- Matthew Mccrink
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- Ohio State University
- United States Navy