• Journal of Advanced Navigation Technology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.224-231
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• 2020

An optical tracking plays an important role for measurement operation, as it is responsible for low altitude measurements that are difficult to obtain with radar systems. Since the existing optical tracking systems have not been developed in the proving ground itself so far, it is difficult to modify them to fit the environment of the proving ground. Also, they are designed as a vehicle-mounted type, so there is a limitation in selecting an optimal site. The in-house developed small optical tracking system is designed with a simple configuration to overcome these shortcomings and makes it possible for operators to operate the system at any place in the proving ground. In addition, there has been a need of developing small optical trackers by ourselves to be prepared for future research so that artificial intelligence (AI) can be applied to the optical tracking systems. In this paper, we described the design concept of the small optical tracker, the configuration of the components to implement the basic tracking function, and showed the results of the simulation to set the configuration of the equipment according to the characteristics of the flight targets.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.20 no.12
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• pp.1272-1277
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• 2014

This article describes a path planning algorithm for fixed-wing UAVs when a real terrain should be considered. Nowadays, many UAVs are required to perform mission flights near given terrain for surveillance, reconnaissance, and infiltration, as well as flight altitude of many UAVs are relatively lower than typical manned aerial vehicles. Therefore, real terrain should be considered in path planning algorithms of fixed-wing UAVs. In this research, we have extended a spline-$RRT^*$ algorithm to three-dimensional planner. The spline-$RRT^*$ algorithm is a $RRT^*$ based algorithm, and it takes spline method to extend the tree structure over the workspace to generate smooth paths without any post-processing. Direction continuity of the resulting path is guaranteed via this spline technique, and it is essential factor for the paths of fixed-wing UAVs. The proposed algorithm confirm collision check during the tree structure extension, so that generated path is both geometrically and dynamically feasible in addition to direction continuity. To decrease degrees of freedom of a random configuration, we designed a function assigning directions to nodes of the graph. As a result, it increases the execution speed of the algorithm efficiently. In order to investigate the performance of the proposed planning algorithm, several simulations are performed under real terrain environment. Simulation results show that this proposed algorithm can be utilized effectively to path planning applications considering real terrain.

• Journal of Communications and Networks
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.58-66
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• 2015

Aeronautical communication networks (ACN) is an emerging concept in which aeronautical stations (AS) are considered as a part of multi-tier network for the future wireless communication system. An AS could be a commercial plane, helicopter, or any other low orbit station, i.e., Unmanned air vehicle, high altitude platform. The goal of ACN is to provide high throughput and cost effective communication network for aeronautical applications (i.e., Air traffic control (ATC), air traffic management (ATM) communications, and commercial in-flight Internet activities), and terrestrial networks by using aeronautical platforms as a backbone. In this paper, we investigate the issues about connectivity, throughput, and delay in ACN. First, topology of ACN is presented as a simple mobile ad hoc network and connectivity analysis is provided. Then, by using information obtained from connectivity analysis, we investigate two communication models, i.e., single-hop and two-hop, in which each source AS is communicating with its destination AS with or without the help of intermediate relay AS, respectively. In our throughput analysis, we use the method of finding the maximum number of concurrent successful transmissions to derive ACN throughput upper bounds for the two communication models. We conclude that the two-hop model achieves greater throughput scaling than the single-hop model for ACN and multi-hop models cannot achieve better throughput scaling than two-hop model. Furthermore, since delay issue is more salient in two-hop communication, we characterize the delay performance and derive the closed-form average end-to-end delay for the two-hop model. Finally, computer simulations are performed and it is shown that ACN is robust in terms of throughput and delay performances.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.50-56
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• 2005

The objective of this study is to find the optimal thrust condition and wing loading of a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) fixed-wing aircraft through a single engine failure analysis during landing approach and an analysis of transition flight. The aircraft analysis modules used in the study are based on the aircraft synthesis program. To achieve the computing infrastructure for aircraft design and analysis, the EMDIOS was employed as a design framework, which is a semi-completed application program and ready to customize. Simulation results reveal the most critical height at the event of single engine failure is approximately 40 ft. And, in order to avoid a significant loss in altitude during the transition, the thrust to weight ratio must be kept high, while both the engine tilt speed and the wing loading must be kept low, as confirmed by the analysis results.

• International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sciences
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.446-457
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• 2012

Aeroelastic analysis of an aircraft with a high aspect ratio wing for medium altitude and long endurance capability was attempted in this paper. In order to achieve such an objective, various structural models were adopted. The traditional approach has been based on a one-dimensional Euler-Bernoulli beam model. The structural analysis results of the present beam model were compared with those by the three-dimensional NASTRAN finite element model. In it, a taper ratio of 0.5 was applied; it was comprised of 21 ribs and 3 spars, and included two control surfaces. The relevant unsteady aerodynamic forces were obtained by using ZAERO, which is based on the doublet lattice method that considers flow compressibility. To obtain the unsteady aerodynamic force, the structural mode shapes and natural frequencies were transferred to ZAERO. Two types of unsteady aerodynamic forces were considered. The first was the unsteady aerodynamic forces which were based on the one-dimensional beam shape; the other was based on the three-dimensional FEM model shape. These two types of aerodynamic forces were compared, and applied to the foregoing flutter analysis. The ultimate goal of the present research is to analyze the possible interaction between the rigid-body degrees of freedom and the aeroelastic modes. This will be achieved after the development of a reliable nonlinear beam formulation that would validate the current results as well as enable a thorough investigation of the nonlinearity. Moreover, such analysis will allow for an examination of the above-mentioned interaction between the flight dynamics and aeroelastic modes with the inclusion of the rigid body degrees of freedom.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.829-846
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• 2018

Crop monitoring can provide useful information for farmers to establish farm management strategies suitable for optimum production of vegetables. But, traditional monitoring has used field measurements involving destructive sampling and laboratory analysis, which is costly and time consuming. Unmanned Aerial vehicle (UAV) could be effectively applied in a field of crop monitoring for estimation of cultivated area, growth parameters, growth disorder and yield, because it can acquire high-resolution images quickly and repeatedly. And lower flight altitude compared with satellite, UAV can obtain high quality images even in cloudy weather. This study examined the possibility of utilizing UAV in the field of crop monitoring and was to suggest the application method for production of crop status information from UAV.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.42 no.7
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• pp.544-551
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• 2014

A program of launch vehicle performance analysis is composed for the education of the conceptual design of launch vehicles and the requirement analysis for the propulsion system design. The program is applied for the mission analysis of space launch vehicles based on KSLV-II with liquid rocket boosters. The 75-ton class liquid rocket engine is assumed for the boosters by referring the mass ratio of KSLV-II second stage. The launch performance analysis is carried out for KSLV-II with 2, 3 and 4 boosters by targeting the circular orbit of 700 km altitude. The trajectory is assumed as two-dimension considering the variation of the flight environment. Payload of advanced KSLV-II could be increased to maximum 3 tons, though it is limited by the thrust performance of the upper stage.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.215-223
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• 2010

In order to develop an precision aerial pesticide application system to be attached to an unmanned helicopter which can be applied to small lots of land, this study analyzed the flowing and spraying characteristics of the spray droplets by the main rotor downwash by setting the application conditions at the flight altitude of 3 m, the diameter of main rotor of 3.1 m, the boom length of around 2.8 m, and the spraying rate of 8 L/ha. The results of this study are summarized below. Through analysis of the covering area ratio of the spray droplets by main rotor downwash by nozzle type, boom with tilt angle and height, it was found that the covering area ratio of the twin flat-fan nozzle of around 25% was more uniform than other types of nozzle, also boom with $10^{\circ}$ tilt angle and spraying height of 3 m was shown to be the appropriate conditions for aerial application of pesticides. It was found that the nozzle position to minimize the scattering loss of spray droplets due to vortex phenomenon at both ends of the main rotor was around 10 cm from the end of the main rotor. An application test for the aerial pesticide application system attached to the HUA-ACEI unmanned helicopter developed by the Rural Development Administration showed that the range of covering area ratio of the spray droplets was 10-25%, and the spraying width was approximately 7 m when over 10% of covering area ratio was considered for valid spraying.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.630-636
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• 2020

This study reviewed camouflage techniques to reduce the visual detect-ability of aircraft. Visual camouflage can be defined as the process of making objects less visible. Aircraft visual camouflage delays detection of the aircraft position, speed, and flight direction. Multi-tone and counter-shaded schemes are generally adopted as camouflage patterns for close-air-support aircraft and air-superiority aircraft, respectively. Another study showed that the monotone scheme is also efficient when the hue and brightness of the camouflage color are controlled correctly. Active camouflage techniques for aircraft have been studied to increase the camouflage effectiveness. In particular, counter-illumination techniques using electroluminescence devices can minimize the difference in brightness between the aircraft and sky background. Active camouflage techniques are expected to enhance the survivability of low-altitude UAVs, which are vulnerable to visual detection.

• Journal of Satellite, Information and Communications
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.76-80
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• 2017

With the fast growing popularity of small UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles), recent UAV systems have been designed and utilized for the various field with their own specific purposes. UAVs are opening up many new opportunities in the fields of electronics, sensors, camera, and software for pilots. Increase in awareness and mission capabilities of UAVs are driving innovations and new applications driven with the help of low cost and its capability in undertaking high threat task. In particular, small unmanned aerial vehicles should fly in environments with high probability of unexpected sudden change or obstacle appearance in low altitude situations. In this paper, current researches regarding techniques of autonomous flight of smal UAV systems are introduced and we propose a draft idea for planning paths for small unmanned aerial vehicles in adversarial environments to arrive at the given target safely with low cost sensors.