• International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sciences
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.121-128
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• 2008

This paper describes the modeling and autopilot design procedure of a Blended Wing-Body(BWB) UAV. The BWB UAV is a tailless design that integrates the wing and the fuselage. This configuration shows some aerodynamic advantages of lower wetted area to volume ratio and lower interference drag as compared to conventional type UAV. Also, BWB UAV may be increase payload capacity and flight range. However, despite of these benefits, this type of UAV presents several problems related to flying qualities, stability, and control. In this paper, the detailed modeling procedure of BWB UAV and stability analysis results using the linearized model at trim condition are represented. Finally, we designed the autopilot of BWB UAV based on a simple control allocation scheme and evaluated its performance through nonlinear simulation.

• Advances in aircraft and spacecraft science
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.283-296
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• 2019

The influence of different planform parameters on the aerodynamic performance of large-scale subsonic and transonic Blended Wing Body (BWB) aircraft have gained comprehensive research in the recent years, however, it is not the case for small-size low subsonic speed Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). The present work numerically investigates aerodynamics governing four different trailing edge geometries characterizing BWB configurations in standard flight conditions at angles of attack from $-4^{\circ}$ to $22^{\circ}$ to provide generic information that can be essential for making well-informed decisions during BWB UAV conceptual design phase. Simulation results are discussed and comparatively analyzed with useful implications for formulation of proper mission profile specific to every BWB configuration.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.422-428
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• 2019

A tailless or Blended-Wing-Body(BWB) shaped configuration is highlighted for UCAV with low RCS characteristics. The BWB configuration is characterized by its directional static instability and low controllability. To control the directional movement of the BWB configured vehicle, directional thrust vectoring equipment or drag rudder typed control surfaces which utilize the drag differences of the wing can be considered. This paper deals with a BWB shaped configuration using a spoiler and describes the lateral-directional aerodynamic characteristics of the vehicle. In addition, it is shwon that the lateral-directional motion can be controlled effectively by using the classical PI control structure. This control law is verified by flight test and showed adequate for the tailless BWB shaped UAV.

• International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sciences
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.290-299
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• 2017

Reconfigurable flight control using various kinds of adaptive control methods has been studied since the 1970s to enhance the survivability of aircraft in case of severe in-flight failure. Early studies were mainly focused on the failure of actuators. Recently, studies of reconfigurable flight controls that can accommodate complex damage (partial wing and tail loss) in conventional aircraft were reported. However, the partial wing loss effects on the aerodynamics of conventional type aircraft are quite different to those of BWB(blended wing body) aircraft. In this paper, a reconfigurable flight control algorithm was designed using a direct model reference adaptive method to overcome the instability caused by a complex damage of a BWB aircraft. A model reference adaptive control was incorporated into the inner loop rate control system enhancing the performance of the baseline control to cope with abrupt loss of stability. Gains of the model reference adaptive control were polled out using the Liapunov's stability theorem. Outer loop attitude autopilot was designed to manage roll and pitch of the BWB UAV as well. A 6-DOF dynamic model was built-up, where the normal flight can be made to switch to the damaged state abruptly reflecting the possible real flight situation. 22% of right wing loss as well as 25% loss for both vertical tail and rudder control surface were considered in this study. Static aerodynamic coefficients were obtained via wind tunnel test. Numerical simulations were conducted to demonstrate the performance of the reconfigurable flight control system.

• International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sciences
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.114-120
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• 2008

In the vision-based recovery phase, a terminal guidance for the blended-wing UAV requires visual information of high accuracy. This paper presents the light source target design and detection algorithm for vision-based UAV recovery. We propose a recovery target design with red and green LEDs. This frame provides the relative position between the target and the UAV. The target detection algorithm includes HSV-based segmentation, morphology, and blob processing. These techniques are employed to give efficient detection results in day and night net recovery operations. The performance of the proposed target design and detection algorithm are evaluated through ground-based experiments.

• Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.34-41
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• 2023

This paper applies the icing effect and wing rock uncertainty to small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which have recently attracted attention. Attitude control simulations were performed using various control methods. First, the selected platform, the Skywalker X8 UAV with blended wing-body (BWB) configuration, was linearized for both its baseline form, and a form with applied icing effects. Subsequently, using MATLAB SimulinkⓇ, simulations were conducted for roll and pitch attitude control of the baseline configuration and the configuration with icing effects, employing disturbance observer-based PID control, model reference adaptive control, and model predictive control. Furthermore, the study introduced wing rock uncertainty simultaneously with icing effects on the configured model-a combination not previously explored in existing research-and conducted simulations. The performance of each control Method was compared and analyzed.