Brief Discussion: Latest Development in UAS Design & Manufacturing
- Setondji V. Nahum
- Mar 12, 2021
- 3 min read
Course: Unmanned Aerospace Systems Operations & Payloads
Flight was pioneered by renowned birds such as the Peregrine Falcon, the Golden Eagle, and the Eurasian Hobby. The motion of their bodies through air has captivated humans since the dawn of aeronautics and fostered the development of mathematical and physics principles known today as flight mechanics. Similarly, Aerodynamics and Propulsion principles were established for the purpose of imitating flying birds through the development of manned aircraft. Throughout the years, the field of aircraft design and manufacturing has known a rapid growth due to tremendous technological advancements. A relentless pursue of innovations in aeronautics has led to the development of unmanned aircraft for the purpose of mitigating human factors issues that limit aircraft capabilities. Nevertheless, Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) development present their own unique set of challenges characterized by a lower power density generated by electromagnetic motors, a lower transmission efficiency, greater viscous losses due to lower Reynolds numbers and an increased difficulty in achieving hovering flight due to the smaller size of the vehicles (Floreano & Wood, 2015). What are some of the latest developments in UAS design and manufacturing that alleviate such challenges?
UAS design has fostered an exponential rise of their usage for multiple applications which include deep space exploration, air-to-air combat and search and rescue missions. Their advantages include improved safety parameters, rapid deployability, lower development and operational cost. Thus, the need for UAS research and development is justified. The most intriguing new developments in UAS design and manufacturing include spanwise adaptive wings configurations, the use of hydrogen fuel cell to power the vehicle and the loyal wingman UAS design concept.
The spanwise adaptive wing concept essentially constitutes of the use of shape memory alloy actuators capable of in-flight deformations. The aircraft wing geometry is adapted to flight conditions and characteristics to optimize aircraft performance and fuel efficiency (NASA, 2021). The wing actuator shape deformation occurs under increased temperatures generated by an integrated heating device. Upon deformation to the desired wing configuration, the temperature is kept constant to maintain the configuration. To revert the wings deformations, an integrated cooling device is used to decrease temperature until the wing progressively return to its initial configuration (NASA, 2021).
The hydrogen fuel cell power system concept essentially constitutes of a conversion of chemical hydrogen fuel energy into electricity through the use of electro-mechanical devices. Beside the minimization of toxic emissions, hydrogen fuel cell technology has been proven to increase system propulsive efficiency. The use of hydrogen fuel cell to power UAS increase the aircraft endurance capabilities. They have reportedly been used to achieve UAS flight times of up to 48hrs. (Depcik et al., 2020).
A reference is made here to the loyal wingman concept because it represents a new UAS program and design objective that may take center-stage within the next decades. It essentially constitutes of teaming manned and unmanned systems to improve overall mission capabilities (Depcik, et al., 2020). Variants of the Kratos XQ-58 A, the Dassault nEUROn and the Sukhoi S-70 B are being specifically adapted or designed for such loyal wingman concepts. Although program specific objective differs, the tendency has been to use a pilot and a manned aircraft to control an unmanned aircraft or a fleet of unmanned aircraft. Some programs have specified a usage that include reconnaissance and shielding of the manned pilot during combat missions while other programs are focused on UAS usage as targeting and weapons delivery systems (Depcik et al., 2020). Given the superiority of UAS to manned aircraft and remote-piloting capabilities, the loyal wingman concept is characterized by some critics as redundant, irrational and a fundamental issue with humans who must instead embrace system monitoring roles and when needed remote piloting roles.
References
Depcik, C., Cassady, T., Collicott, B., & Burugupally, S. (2020). Comparison of Lithium Ion
Batteries, Hydrogen Fueled Combustion Engines, and a Hydrogen Fuel Cell in Powering
A Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle. Energy Conversion and Management, 207.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2020.112514
Floreano, D., & Wood, R. J. (2015). Science, Technology and The Future of Small Autonomous
Drones. Nature, 521(7553), 460-466.
Reim, G. (2018, Sep). Unmanned support. Flight International, 194, 36-37. Retrieved from
com.ezproxy.libproxy.db.erau.edu/magazines/unmanned-
support/docview/2103472859/se-2?accountid=27203
NASA. (2021). Spanwise Adaptive Wing. https://technology.nasa.gov/patent/LEW-TOPS-124
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