2009QRF0015_SHADOW-Ops Project SO2009-1 - Small Tactical Unmanned Aerial System (STUAS) – Aerodynamic Development for Performance and Flying Qualities Analysis
Abstract
a. The objective of the Computational Research and Engineering Acquisition Tools and Environments – Aircraft (CREATE-AV) project was to develop and deploy new physics-based computationally based engineering (CBE) software tool sets for DOD acquisition programs to use to design, test, and evaluate aircraft weapon systems and modifications. These software tools will run on current high performance computers (super-computers) and ultimately on next-generation (N/G) super-computers. Successful completion of this multi-year project will enable the acquisition engineering community to (1) identify design defects and correct them early in the design process before major schedule and budget commitments are made, (2) use live tests to validate a mature design rather than identify the problems in an immature design, and (3) replace experimental prototypes with computational prototypes that can be constructed much more quickly and cheaply. b. One sub-project within CREATE-AV is Shadow-Operations (Shadow-Ops). The FY09 Shadow Ops objectives are to work with the acquisition engineers in selected DOD program offices to address current problems using existing computational engineering tools and to identify and understand acquisition programs requirements for NG software tool development. The Shadow-Ops teams provide computational tools to solve acquisition engineering problems and provide the acquisition engineers with hands on involvement in how to use these tools. This approach has twin benefits in that it (1) provides CREATE with needed information as to which legacy functions are valuable and (2) provides the acquisition engineering community immediate support and experience to enable better and faster responses. c. Naval small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have limited data from Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis, wind tunnel testing and/or flight testing. The CREATE-AV SHADOW Ops Small Tactical Unmanned Aerial System (STUAS) – Aerodynamic Development for Performance and Flying Qualities Analysis effort will complete generation of an aerodynamic database to be used in simulation tools for engineering analysis and evaluation of flight worthiness and finalize/document a standard process for future CFD aerodynamic database generation to be used in flight dynamics and performance engineering evaluations during early phases of the DoD acquisition process. This will reduce risk in flight dynamics and performance assessments for flight worthiness certifications during initial flight test programs and provide enhanced aerodynamic data to be used in flight clearance assessments and modification assessments for small UAVs.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Accomplishment
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2011
- Source ID
- c51c9f0595b40cc1723ba405e7f058bc