Journal ArticleDOI
Macro-fiber composite actuators for a swept wing unmanned aircraft
TLDR
In this article, a type of piezoceramic composite actuator known as Macro-Fiber Composite (MFC) is used for changing the camber of the wings.Abstract:
The purpose of the research presented here is to exploit actuation via smart materials to perform shape control of an aerofoil on a small aircraft and to determine the feasibility and advantages of smooth control surface deformations. A type of piezoceramic composite actuator known as Macro-Fiber Composite (MFC) is used for changing the camber of the wings. The MFC actuators were implemented on a 30° swept wing, 0·76m wingspan aircraft. The experimental vehicle was flown using two MFC patches in an elevator/aileron (elevon) configuration. Preliminary flight and wind-tunnel testing has demonstrated the stability and control of the concept. Flight tests were performed to quantify roll control using the MFC actuators. Lift and drag coefficients along with pitch and roll moment coefficients were measured in a low-speed, open-section wind tunnel. A vortex-lattice analysis complemented the database of aerodynamic derivatives used to analyse control response. The research, for the first time, successfully demonstrated that piezoceramic devices requiring high voltages can be effectively employed in small air vehicles without compromising the weight of the overall system.read more
Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
A Review of Morphing Aircraft
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors classify the shape morphing parameters that can be affected by planform alteration (span, sweep, and chord), out-of-plane transformation (twist, dihedral/gull, and span-wise bending), and airfoil adjustment (camber and thickness).
Journal ArticleDOI
Morphing unmanned aerial vehicles
TL;DR: This review focuses on presenting the role UAVs have in morphing research by giving an overview of the UAV morphing concepts, designs, and technologies described in the literature.
Journal ArticleDOI
Macro-Fiber Composite actuated simply supported thin airfoils
TL;DR: In this paper, a parametric study of fluid-structure interaction is employed to find pin locations along the chordwise direction that result in high lift generation for variable camber airfoil intended for a ducted fan aircraft.
Journal ArticleDOI
A novel unmanned aircraft with solid-state control surfaces: Analysis and flight demonstration
Onur Bilgen,Lauren M. Butt,Steven R. Day,Craig A. Sossi,Joseph P. Weaver,Artur Wolek,William H. Mason,Daniel J. Inman +7 more
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors presented a completely servo-less, piezoelectric controlled, wind tunnel and flight tested, remotely piloted aircraft that has been developed by the 2010 Virginia Tech Wing Morphing Des...
Journal ArticleDOI
Electromechanical comparison of cantilevered beams with multifunctional piezoceramic devices
TL;DR: In this paper, an electromechanical comparison of the transduction capabilities of a clamped-free Macro-Fiber Composite (MFC) actuated unimorph to other unimorphs employing monolithic piezoceramic devices is presented.
References
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Book
Flight Stability and Automatic Control
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a mathematical review of Laplace transforms and matrix algebra for control system analysis techniques for aircraft Autopilot design and demonstrate the application of classic control theory to aircraft autopilot designs.
Book
Aerodynamics, Aeronautics, and Flight Mechanics
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors discuss the production of Thrust Airplane Performance Helicopters and V/STOL Aircraft Static Stability and Control Open-Loop DSC Controlled Motion and Automatic Stability.
Proceedings ArticleDOI
Low-cost piezocomposite actuator for structural control applications
William K. Wilkie,Robert G. Bryant,James W. High,Robert L. Fox,Richard F. Hellbaum,Anthony Jalink,Bruce D. Little,Paul H. Mirick +7 more
TL;DR: In this article, a planar composite piezoceramic actuator is presented, which uses interdigitated electrodes for poling and subsequent actuation of an internal layer of machined piezoelectric fibers.
Journal ArticleDOI
Aspects of low- and high-frequency actuation for aerodynamic flow control
TL;DR: In this paper, a Coanda-like deflection of the forced separating shear layer toward the surface is proposed for aerodynamic control of separated flows over aerodynamic (or bluff) bodies in which the separated flow domain scales with the characteristic length of the body.
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