• International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sciences
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.662-674
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• 2017

This paper describes the multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO) process of a tailless unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) using global variable fidelity aerodynamic analysis. The developed tailless UAV design framework combines multiple disciplines that are based on low-fidelity and empirical analysis methods. An automated high-fidelity aerodynamic analysis is efficiently integrated into the MDO framework. Global variable fidelity modeling algorithm manages the use of the high-fidelity analysis to enhance the overall accuracy of the MDO by providing the initial sampling of the design space with iterative refinement of the approximation model in the neighborhood of the optimum solution. A design formulation was established considering a specific aerodynamic, stability and control design features of a tailless aircraft configuration with a UCAV specific mission profile. Design optimization problems with low-fidelity and variable fidelity analyses were successfully solved. The objective function improvement is 14.5% and 15.9% with low and variable fidelity optimization respectively. Results also indicate that low-fidelity analysis overestimates the value of lift-to-drag ratio by 3-5%, while the variable fidelity results are equal to the high-fidelity analysis results by algorithm definition.

• 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.

• 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.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.44 no.7
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• pp.552-561
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• 2016

In this experimental study, the dynamic stability derivatives of a tailless lambda-shape UAV are estimated from time history data of aerodynamic moments measured from the internal balance while the test model is forced to oscillate at given frequencies and amplitudes. A 3-axis forced oscillation apparatus is designed to induce decoupled roll, yaw, pitch oscillations respectively. The results show that the roll damping derivatives remain stable at the entire range of angle of attack tested, whereas the pitch damping derivatives become unstable beyond $15^{\circ}$ angle of attack. The amplitude and frequency have little impact on roll damping derivatives while the smaller amplitude and frequency of oscillation improves the pitch stability. The yaw damping derivative values are fairly small as expected for a tailless configuration. The results indicate that the proposed methodology and test apparatus area valid for estimating the dynamic stability derivatives of a tailless UAV.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.232-242
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• 2015

For stealth performance consideration, many UAV designs are adopting tailless lambda-shaped configurations which are likely to have unsteady dynamic characteristics. In order to control such UAVs through automatic flight control system, more accurate estimation of dynamic stability derivatives becomes essential. In this paper, dynamic stability derivatives of a tailless lambda-shaped UAV are estimated through numerically simulated forced oscillation method incorporating dynamic mesh technique. First, the methodology is validated by benchmarking the CFD results against previously published experimental results of the Standard Dynamics Model(SDM). The dependency of initial angle of attack, oscillation frequency and oscillation magnitude on the dynamic stability derivatives of a tailless UAV configuration is then studied. The results show reasonable agreements with experimental reference data and prove the validity and efficiency of the concept of using CFD to estimate the dynamic derivatives.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.22 no.9
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• pp.759-765
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• 2016

This paper presents the principle, dynamics modeling and control, hardware implementation, and flight test result of a hybrid-type unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The proposed UAV was designed to provide both hovering and fixed-wing type aerodynamic flight modes. The UAV's flight mode transition was achieved through the attitude transformation in pitch axis, which avoids a complex rotor tilt mechanism from a structural and control viewpoint. To achieve this, a different navigation coordinate was introduced that avoids the gimbal lock in pitch singularity point. Attitude and guidance control algorithms were developed for the flight control system. For flight test purposes, a quadrotor attached with a tailless fixed-wing structure was manufactured. An onboard flight control computer was designed to realize the navigation and control algorithms and the UAV's performance was verified through the outdoor flight tests.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.114-121
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• 2019

Tailless aircraft have advantages of low visibility compared to conventional aircraft, but drawback of poor stability as well which makes designing controller difficult. The controller design is more difficult, especially when the center of gravity moves due to store release or fuel consumption during flight. In this paper, an L1 adaptive controller is proposed as a way to overcome these problems. The reliability and performance of the controllers were verified by non-linear simulations. RPV Flying Quality Design criteria were used for design criteria. Using the simulation, it is shown that the adaptive controller maintains stability of the unmanned aircraft for sudden large change in the inertial properties. It is also shown that the calculation burden can be reduced when it is used with the gain scheduling method.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Military Science and Technology
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.409-421
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• 2023

In the air power, UAVs have played a large and diversified role in performing missions from simple to high-level complex ones. In particular, the suppression of enemy air defenses(SEAD) is very dangerous for a pilot so it is expected that the manned-unmanned teaming(MUM-T) system with tailless stealthy unmanned aerial vehicle(UAV) will greatly enhance effectiveness of the mission while ensuring the pilot safe. This paper describes simulation studies of remote airborne control(RAC) environment for performing the SEAD mission by MUM-T, by which the air force pilot remotely controls tailless UAVs individually or small UAVs in swarm. Through this simulation, air force pilot can derive the concept of MUM-T mission operation with various UAVs in the future, and it can be used to upgrade the MUM-T system by verifying the effectiveness of the mission.

• Journal of computational fluids engineering
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.70-80
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• 2016

The comparison of two commercial codes(FLUENT and STAR-CCM+) and an open-source code(OpenFOAM) are carried out for the aerodynamic analysis of flight vehicles at low speeds. Tailless blended-wing-body UCAV, main wing and propeller of HALE UAV(EAV-3) are chosen as geometries for the investigation. Using the same mesh, incompressible flow simulations are carried out and the results from three different codes are compared. In the linear region, the maximum difference of lift and drag coefficients of UCAV are found to be less than 2% and 5 counts, respectively and shows good agreement with wind tunnel test data. In a stall region, however, the reliability of RANS simulation is found to become poor and the uncertainty according to code also increases. The effect of turbulence models and meshes generated from different tools are also examined. The transition model yields better results in terms of drag which are much closer to the test data. The pitching moment is confirmed to be sensitive to the existence and the location of transition. For the case of EAV-3 wing, the difference of results with ${\kappa}-{\omega}$ SST model is increased when Reynolds number becomes low. The results for the propeller show good agreement within 1% difference of thrust. The reliability and uncertainty of three codes is found to be reasonable for the purpose of engineering use. However, the physical validity and reliability of results seem to be carefully examined when ${\kappa}-{\omega}$ SST model is used for aerodynamic simulation at low speeds or low Reynolds number conditions.