• Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.32-38
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• 2014

Sufficient energy charging during a day is essential for a solar-powered long-endurance aircraft. Variations of flight path that is superior to a basic circle path are sought in this study for more efficient charging. Flight path associated with roll and pitch attitudes are investigated. It seems that the pitch angle can play more important role than the roll angle for the solar charging efficiency. Thus, more energy charging is observed when the entire flight path is tilted toward the direction of the sun.

• International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sciences
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.219-231
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• 2014

We develop a preliminary design optimization procedure in this paper regarding the wing planform in a solar-powered high-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle. A high-aspect-ratio wing has been widely adopted in this type of a vehicle, due to both the high lift-to-drag ratio and lightweight design. In the preliminary design, its characteristics need to be addressed correctly, and analyzed in an appropriate manner. In this paper, we use the three-dimensional Euler equation to analyze the wing aerodynamics. We also use an advanced structural modeling approach based on a geometrically exact one-dimensional beam analysis. Regarding the structural integrity of the wing, we determine detailed configuration parameters, specifically the taper ratio and the span length. Next, we conduct a multi-objective optimization scheme based on the response surface method, using the present baseline configuration. We consider the structural integrity as one of the constraints. We reduce the wing weight by approximately 25.3 % from that in the baseline configuration, and also decrease the power required approximately 3.4 %. We confirm that the optimized wing has sufficient flutter margin and improved static longitudinal/directional stability characteristics, as compared to those of the baseline configuration.

• Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.59-65
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• 2016

Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) is developing an electric-driven HALE UAV in order to secure system and operational technologies since 2010. Based on the 5 years of flight tests and design experiences of the previously developed electric-driven UAVs, KARI has designed EAV-3, a solar-powered HALE UAV. EAV-3 weighs 53 kg, the structure weight is 21 kg, and features a flexible wing of 19.5 m in span with the aspect ratio of 17.4. Designing the main wing and empennage of the EAV-3 the amount of the bending due to the flexible wing, 404 mm at 1-G flight condition based on T-800 composite material, and side wind effects due to low cruise speed, V_cr = 6 m/sec, are carefully considered. Also, unlike the general aircraft there is no center of gravity shift during the flight. Thus, the static margin cuts down to 28.4% and center of gravity moves back to 31% of the Mean Aerodynamic Chord (MAC) comparing to the previously developed scale-down HALE UAVs, EAV-2 and EAV-2H, to minimize a trim drag and enhance a performance of the EAV-3. The first flight of the EAV-3 has successfully conducted on the July 29, 2015 and the test flight above the altitude 14 km has efficiently achieved on the August 5, 2015 at the Goheung aviation center.

• 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.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.133-140
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• 2018

Recently, environmentally friendly aviation propulsion systems have received a lot of attention. Therefore, many studies have been conducted on the development of UAVs and propulsion systems that can perform missions while relying on a combination of various power sources. In this paper, we show the design results of a hybrid propulsion system based on solar-power generation. It integrates a single system to test reliability and performance. Finally, a verification test is conducted on the aircraft to confirm the function and normal operation of the system before a flight test.