• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.49-55
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• 2013

This paper deals with the flight test of propulsion system of middle size electrically powered UAV (EAV2, Electric Aerial Vehicle 2) which is under development in KARI. EAV2 is low speed endurance type UAV whose wing span is 6.9 m, and weight is 18 kg. The UAV has flown for 22 hours in June of 2012. The flight test result showed that the propulsion system worked well suppling power for any circumstances during the test flight. Each power source worked according to the design purpose.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.468-477
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• 2014

In this research, how a solar powered HALE (high altitude long endurance) UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) can climb and reach mission altitude, 18km, starting from the ground using only solar energy. A glider type aircraft was assumed as a baseline configuration which has wing area of $35.98m^2$ and aspect ratio of 25. Configuration parameters, lift and drag coefficients were calculated using OpenVSP and XFLR5 that are NASA open source programs, and climb flights were predicted through energy balance between available energy from solar power and energy necessary for a climb flight. Minimum time climb flight was obtained by minimizing flight velocities at each altitude and total time and total energy consumption to reach the mission altitude were predicted for different take off time. Also, aircraft moving distances due to westerly wind and flight speed were calculated.

• Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.10-17
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• 2023

This paper describes the research and development of a 3.0 m Solar-Powered UAV system for mission flight that is based on the 4.2 m Solar-powered UAV. Both the Solar-Powered UAVs were lightened in weight by applying a composite fuselage and solar charging system. Also, a deep stall landing application and airbag module were installed for usability in mission performance. The flight performance of the Solar-Powered UAV system was verified through flight test. In particular, the 3.0 m Solar-Powered UAV performed continuous flight along the coastline of Jeju Island for 147 km in 3 hours and 50 minutes, and its performance as a mission flight was also confirmed.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.41 no.9
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• pp.708-713
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• 2013

KARI is developing a solar-electric powered HALE UAV(EAV-3). For demonstrating the technology, EAV-2H, a down-scaled version of EAV-3, is developed and after EAV-2H's initial flight test, the directional stability and control need to be improved. Thus, the vertical tail and rudder of EAV-2H are redesigned with Advanced Aircraft Analysis(AAA). Size of the rudder is increased from mean chord ratio of rudder to vertical tail, $C_r/C_v(%)=30$ to $C_r/C_v(%)=60$ and size of the vertical tail is reduced 15%. As a result, the directional control to side wind($v_1$) is improved to sideslip angle, ${\beta}(deg)=25^{\circ}$ and $v_1(m/sec)=3.54$. Also, variation of airplane side force coefficient with sideslip angle ($C_{y_{\beta}}$) and variation of airplane side force coefficient with dimensionless rate of change of yaw rate ($C_{y_r}$) are reduced 15% and 22%, respectively to minimize the effect of side wind. The empennage design of EAV-2H is verified with flight tests and applied to design of KARI's solar-electric-powered EAV-3.

• The Journal of the Korea institute of electronic communication sciences
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.433-440
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• 2022

High Altitude Long Endurance(HALE) solar powered UAV is the vehicle that flies for a long time as solar power energy sources. It can be used to replace satellites or provide continuous service because it can perform long-term missions at high altitudes. Due to the property of the mission, it is very important for HALE solar powered UAV to have maximum flight time. It is required for mission performance to fly at high altitudes continuously except a return for temporary maintenance. Therefore mission availability time analysis is a critical factor in the commercialization of HALE solar powered UAV. In this paper, we presented an analytic model and logic for available time analysis based on the design parameters of HALE solar powered UAV. This model can be used to analyze the possibility of applying UAV according to the UAV's mission in concept design before the UAV detail design stage.

• Journal of Advanced Navigation Technology
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.401-407
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• 2016

This paper introduces 3-dimensional path planning and guidance including power model for high altitude long endurance (HALE) UAV using solar energy. Dubins curve used in this paper has advantage of being directly available to apply path planning. However, most of the path planning problems using Dubins curve are defined in a two-dimensional plan. So, we used 3-dimensional Dubins path generation algorithm which was studied by Randal W. Beard. The aircraft model which used in this paper does not have an aileron. So we designed lateral controller by using a rudder. And then, we were conducted path tracking simulations by using a nonlinear path tracking algorithm. We generate examples according to altitude conditions. From the path tracking simulation results, we confirm that the path tracking is well on the flight path. Finally, we were modeling the power system of HALE UAVs and conducting path tracking simulation during 48hours. Modeling the amount of power generated by the solar cell through the calculation of the solar energy yield. And, we show the 48hours path tracking simulation results.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.50 no.7
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• pp.479-487
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• 2022

This paper presents the control and guidance algorithm of a KAU-SPUAV(Korea Aerospace University - Solar Powered Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) which is designed and developed in Korea Aerospace University. Aerodynamic coefficients are calculated using the vortex-lattice method and applied to the aircraft's six degrees of freedom equation. In addition, the thrust and torque coefficients of the propeller are calculated using the blade element theory. An altitude controller using thrust was used for longitudinal control of KAU-SPUAV to glide efficiently when it comes across the upwind. Also describes wind estimation technic for considering wind effect during flight. Finally, introduce some guidance laws for endurance, mission and coping with strong headwinds and autonomous landing.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.77-84
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• 2015

Recently, as the needs for eco-friendly aero propulsion system increase gradually, many study works have been conducted to develop the hybrid propulsion system for High Altitude Long Endurance(HALE) UAV. In this study, we analyzed both suitable energy distribution and management methodology among the total energy collected from solar cell and the total required energy of aerial vehicle and required energy of the regenerative fuel cell(RFC) for driving in the night time and optimized the energy balance mechanism based on the ascribed mission profile.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.285-288
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• 2005

A Stratospheric airship should stay long to achieve its original mission. Meanwhile, to obtain what the solar radiation and heat transfer have an effect on Stratospheric condition, heat analysis has been done. For this work, Stratospheric heat condition's been examined and for the numerical analysis, by using Gridgen, grids of airship have been generated. And by using STAR-CD, the study about heat characteristic of airship model was carried out. Especially, with changing the position of the Sun, the temperature change of the airship body was focused on. With this background, the possibility of realizing the simulation of the effects solar radiation have on the Stratospheric airship.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.47-58
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• 2014

In this research, the initial sizing of a HALE(High Altitude Long Endurance) UAV which uses solar power and hydrogen fuel cell as an alternative energy was performed. Instead of a wing box type, a glider type was chosen since it is relatively easy to get a data thanks to many researches abroad. Maximum takeoff weight is around 150Kg and the propulsion system is composed of motor, propeller, solar cell, and hydrogen fuel cell which can be recharged through electrolysis. Maximum takeoff weight was estimated as aspect ratio, wing span, wing area change while considering energy balance of required energy which is necessary for flight during the entire day and available energy which can be taken from the solar cell.