Development of a Flexible Framework Multi-Design Optimization Scheme for a Hand Launched Fuel Cell-Powered UAV

Autor: Zaid O. Alrayes, Mohamed Gadalla
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2021
Předmět:
Zdroj: Energies, Vol 14, Iss 10, p 2951 (2021)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 14102951
1996-1073
DOI: 10.3390/en14102951
Popis: This paper presents different methods for the design of a hand-launchable, fixed wing, fuel cell-powered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to maximize flight endurance during steady level flight missions. The proposed design methods include the development of physical models for different propulsion system components. The performance characteristics of the aircraft are modeled through empirical contributing analyses in which each analysis corresponds to an aircraft subsystem. The contributing analyses are collected to form a design structure matrix which is included into a multi-disciplinary analysis to solve for the design variables over a defined design space. The optimal solution is found using a comprehensive optimization tool developed for long endurance flight missions. Optimization results showed a significant improvement in UAV flight endurance that reached up to 475 min with take-off ratio equals to 59 min/kg. Wind tunnel and bench-top tests and HiL simulation tests are performed to validate the results obtained from the optimization tools. Validated optimization results showed an increase of the overall UAV flight endurance by 19.4% compared to classical approaches in design methods.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals