• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.73-79
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• 2010

A preliminary study on a length-variable rotor blade for a small unmanned helicopter has been conducted. After surveys on previous researches, and examining requirements for application to a small unmanned helicopter, a length-variable rotor blade was designed and manufactured to be driven by centrifugal force from rotor revolution with no mechanical actuator. The rotor blade was divided into a fixed inboard section and an outboard section sliding in span-wise direction. In order to determine the operating conditions of the length-variable rotor during revolution, and to derive the design variables of extension spring and rotor weight, a series of analyses from multi-body dynamics solution were conducted. The manufactured prototype was verified of its length-varying mechanism from a rotor stand, the results and required future improvements are discussed.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.35 no.11
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• pp.990-998
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• 2007

Adaptive output feedback control technique using Neural Networks(NN) is proposed for uncertain nonlinear Multi-Input Multi-Output(MIMO) systems. Modified Dynamic Inversion Model(MDIM) is introduced to decouple uncertain nonlinearities from inversion-based control input. MDIM consists of approximated dynamic inversion model and inversion model error. One NN is applied to compensate the MDIM of the system. The output of the NN augments the tracking controller which is based upon a filtered error approximation with online weight adaptation laws which are derived from Lyapunov's direct method to guarantee tracking performance and ultimate boundedness. Several numerical results are illustrated in the simulation of Van der Pol system and unmanned helicopter with model uncertainties.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.48 no.8
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• pp.641-651
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• 2020

This paper implements an antenna selection logic that automatically selects omni-directional antennas mounted on the top and bottom of an unmanned helicopter to maintain the link margin of the data link at 0dB or higher during flight. The selection criteria were derived by simulating and analyzing the radiation pattern. In addition, it is implemented to select the optimal antenna in real time during the flight by deriving the directivity angle function.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.192-200
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• 2012

Purpose: Aerial application of chemicals with an agricultural helicopter allows for precise and timely spraying and reduces working labor and pollution. An attitude controller for an agricultural helicopter would be helpful to aerial application operator. The objectives of this paper are to determine the transfer function models and to estimate the handling qualities of a bare-airframe model helicopter. Methods: Transfer functions of a model unmanned helicopter were estimated by using NAVFIT and DERIVID modules of the $CIFER^{(R)}$ program to the time history data of frequency sweep flight tests. Control inputs of the transfer functions were elevator, aileron, rudder and collective pitch stick positions and the outputs were resulting on-axis movements of the fuselage. Results: Minimum realization of the transfer functions for pitch rate output to elevator control input and roll rate output to aileron control input produced second order transfer functions with undamped natural frequencies around 3.0 Hz and damping ratios of 0.139 and 0.530, respectively. The equivalent time delays of the transfer functions ranged from 0.16 to 0.44 second. Sensitivity analysis of the proposed parameters allowed derivation of minimal realization of the transfer functions. Conclusions: Handling quality of the model helicopter was addressed based on the eigenvalues of the transfer functions, corresponding undamped natural frequencies with damping ratios. The equivalent time delays of the lateral-directional motion ranged from 0.16 to 0.44 second, longer than the 0.1 to 0.15 second requirement for well-controlled typical manned aerial vehicles.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2012

Purpose: The most important element of an agricultural helicopter is the rotor blade realizing lift force. In order to improve the performance of the rotor blades, two types (KA152313 and KB203611) of airfoils were designed and compared. Methods: The nose shape of the KB203611 airfoil was 'drooped' and 'sharp' compared to the leading edge of the KA152313 airfoil. The performance of the experimental airfoils was simulated using CFD-ACE program, and lifts were measured in situ using the 'AgroHeli-4G', a prototype helicopter. Results: Simulated lifts of the blade with the KA152313 airfoil showed proper values for a wide range of angles of attack between $14^{\circ}{\sim}18^{\circ}$, while the simulated lift of the KB203611 blade exhibited maximum values near $13^{\circ}{\sim}14^{\circ}$. In the lift measurements, the range of operable angles of attack was a collective pitch angle at the grip (GP) of $12^{\circ}{\sim}18^{\circ}$ for the KA152313 blade. On the other hand, the range of angles of attack for the KB203611 blade was a GP of $12^{\circ}{\sim}14^{\circ}$. Conclusions: The blade of KA152313 performed well over a wide range of AoAs and the blade of KB203611 performed better at low AoAs. In this study, a variative airfoil blade, gradually emerging from grip to tip using the two different airfoils, was suggested.

• Journal of Advanced Navigation Technology
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.185-192
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• 2005

The aim of this paper is to analyze handling qualities of tiltrotor aircraft(TR-S4) in helicopter flight mode including hovering and forward flight. Analysis of handling qualities is composed of aircraft response to control inputs that effect on stability and controllability. In short term response analysis, bandwidth is the critical parameter for small amplitude motions since it relates to the ability of a pilot to crisply start and stop maneuver. The handling qualities of TR-S4 in helicopter mode are analyzed with a SAS and an attitude controller and are satisfied level 1 in almost criteria with simulation of TR-S4 6-DOF nonlinear model.

• Proceedings of KOSOMES biannual meeting
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• 2018.06a
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• pp.38-38
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• 2018

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.40 no.11
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• pp.997-1003
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• 2012

GNSS and ARS are the most common sensors in low-end UAVs. However, these sensors are vulnerable to built-in errors and cannot measure the body heading independently. The GNSS/INS cannot fully compensate the IMU errors in initial alignment process and rectilinear flights. For an unmanned helicopter, a magnetometer can be more useful than any other sensors to obtain heading information. However, the electric motor which drives small helicopter UAV keeps the magnetometer from reading the pure magnetotelluric vector. This paper shows the effects of electric motor on the magnetometer readings, and presents a method to compensate the effects. The results are verified with flight test data. The simulation and experimental results in this paper proves that aiding GNSS/INS with magnetometer increases observability and improves accuracy.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.467-475
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• 2011

Aerial spraying technology using a small unmanned helicopter is an efficient and practical tool to achieve stable agricultural production to improve the working condition. An attitude controller for the agricultural helicopter would be helpful to aerial application operator. In order to construct the flight controller, a state space model of the helicopter should be identified using a dynamic analysis program, such as CIFER$^{(R)}$. To obtain the state space a model of the helicopter, frequency-sweep flight tests were performed and time history data were acquired using a custom-built stick position transmitter. Four elements of stick commands were accessed for the collective pitch (heave), aileron (roll), elevator (pitch), rudder (yaw) maneuvers. The test results showed that rudder stick position signal was highly linear with rudder input channel signal of the receiver; however, collective pitch stick position signal was exponentially manipulated for the convenience of control stick handling. The acquired stick position and flight dynamic data during sweep tests would be analyzed in the followed study.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Military Science and Technology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.146-153
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• 2015

An unmanned aerial photography method by using an unmanned helicopter is useful method for measuring of the water-entry traces of small falling objects into the sea. Pixel sizes on the aerial photograph may be too large due to a limit of camcorder resolution and a wide shooting area. If the pixel size is too large, identification of water-entry trace is impossible. Thus an accurate prediction of water-entry trace size is required. The traces of water-entry could be classified into three types such as splash, water column, and bubble. Diameters of each trace are predicted by water-entry impact pressure theories, cavity theories, and trial test results. The results are verified by drop tests using an unmanned helicopter at two water-entry speeds. As a result, prediction and test results showed sufficient similarity to evaluate the identifiability of water-entry trace.