Design, fabrication and test of a vertical attitude takeoff and landing unmanned air vehicle.

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by  Stoney, Robert Brian.;Howard, Richard M.

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issified
rv Classification ofthis page
REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE
sport Security Classification: Unclassified lb Restrictive Markings
curiry Classification Authority 3 Distribution/AvailabilityofReport
^classification/Downgrading Schedule Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
forming Organization Report Number(s) 5 Monitoring Organization Report Number(s)
une ofPerforming Organization 6b Office Symbol 7a Name of Monitoring Organization
d Postgraduate School Ofapplicable) Naval Postgraduate School
AA/HO
Idress (city, state, andZIP code) 7b Address (city, state, andZIP code)
terey CA 93943-5000 Monterey CA 93943-5000
me of Funding/Sponsoring Organization 6b Office Symbol 9 Procurement Instrument Identification Number
(ifapplicable)
«8 (city, state, andZIP code) 10 Source ofFunding Numbers
Program Element No Project No Task No Work Unit Accession No
DESIGN, FABRICATION AND TEST OF A VERTICAL ATTITUDE TAKEOFF AND
tie (include security classification)
DING UNMANNED AIR VEHICLE.
•sonal Author(s) Stoney, Robert B.
ype ofReport 13b TimeCovered 14 Date ofReport (year, month, day) 15 Page Count
aeer's Thesis From To 1993, June
224
iplementary Notation The views expressed in this thesis are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position
i Department of Defense or the U.S. Government.
sati Codes 18 Subject Terms (continue on reverse ifnecessary and identify by block number)
Group Subgroup Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV), Vertical Attitude Takeoffand Landing (VATOL),
Tailsitter, Design, Fabrication, Test, Simulation
stract (continue on reverse ifnecessary and identify by block number)
re fleet needs for real-time intelligence require an unmanned platform capable of operations from small surface combatants
»ut the need for extensive support personnel and equipment and without causing disruption to the operations of the ship from
a it operates. A candidate must not only takeoff and landing vertically but also be capable of high forward flight speeds and
ent on-station performance. The design and initial fabrication of a Vertical Attitude Takeoff and Landing (VATOL)
armed Air Vehicle (UAV) airframe was completed at the Naval Postgraduate School. The vehicle, called Archytas, was a
ination of two existing UAV's—the AROD and Aquila—as well as locally manufactured components, including a canard and
spar. The objective of creating Archytas was to provide a proof-of-concept platform for research to explore performance
-offs and stability augmentation. A three-degree-of-freedom simulation was used as the focus of the design efforts, to validate
n decisions made in the fields of propulsion, aerodynamics, structures and flight mechanics. Engine tests were conducted to
mine thrust and control power. Structural components were designed, fabricated and then tested, making modifications where
sary to ensure sufficient airframe strength. A longitudinal control system was designed, validated by simulation, and tested
turally.
tribution/Availability of Abstract 21 Abstract Security Classification
classified/unlimited _ same as report DTIC users Unclassified
*me ofResponsible Individual 22b Telephone (include Area Code) 22c Office Symbol
Issor Richard M. Howard 408 656 2870 AA/HO
DRM 1473,84 MAR 83 APR edition may be used until exhausted security classification of this page
Unclassified
T260633
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
Design, Fabrication and Test
of a Vertical Attitude Takeoff and Landing
Unmanned Air Vehicle
by
Robert Brian Stoney
Lieutenant Commander, United States Navy
B.S., Iowa State University, 1980
Submitted in partial fulfillment of
the requirements for the degree of
Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineer
from the
NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL
June, 1993
ABSTRACT
Future fleet needs for real-time intelligence require an unmanned
platform capable of operations from small surface combatants
without the need for extensive support personnel or equipment and
without causing disruption to the operations of the ship from which
it operates. A candidate must not only takeoff and land vertically
but also be capable of high forward flight speeds and efficient on-
station performance. The design and initial fabrication of a Vertical
Attitude Takeoff and Landing (VATOL) Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV)
airframe was completed at the Naval Postgraduate School. The
vehicle, called Archytas, was a combination of two existing UAV's--
AROD
the and Aquila--as well as locally manufactured components,
including a canard support structure and wing spar. The objective of
creating Archytas was to provide a proof-of-concept platform for
research to explore performance trade-offs and stability
augmentation. A three-degree-of-freedom simulation was used as
the focus of the design efforts, to validate design decisions made in
the fields of propulsion, aerodynamics, structures and flight
mechanics. Engine tests were conducted to determine thrust and
control power. Structural components were designed, fabricated and
then tested, making modifications where necessary to ensure
sufficient airframe strength. A longitudinal control system was
designed, validated by simulation, and tested structurally.
111
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
.
This work is essentially the result of life-long advice, instruction,
nurturing and motivation from people too many to thank. I am
certainly thankful to my parents, William and Nancy. My father
showed me by example the skills and thought processes of an
"Ingegnere". I could have no better example of an engineer, or a
father. My mother raised me to believe in myself--I draw from her
nurturing every day of my life. And to my other mom, Lenore,
who's insistence on education as a means to an end has not been lost
on me.
My work at NPS would not have been possible without the strong
support of Professor Rick Howard, a gifted mentor who exemplifies
the type of teacher we all need....we all want to be.
But above all I am indebted to my family: Anne, William and
Allison for the daily support, patience and motivation without which
this thesis would not have been possible. They reminded me of what
the most important thing in life is: love of family.
IV
...
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
I. 1
A. MISSION NEED
1
B. LIMITATIONS OF CURRENT SYSTEMS 2
C MOTIVATION
3
BACKGROUND
D. 5
A. VERTICAL ATTITUDE TAKEOFF AND LANDING (VATOL) 5
1 General 5
VATOL
2. historical designs 7
NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL UAV PROGRAMS
B. 1 2
1 General 1 2
UAV
2. Aquila 1 3
ARCHYTAS DESIGN-GENERAL
III. 1 7
A. DESIGN OBJECTIVES 7
1
1 General 1 7
2. Specific 1 7
DESIGN TEAM
B. 1 8
C DESIGN PROCESS-ARCHYTAS AIRFRAME
2
D THESIS ORGANIZATION 2 2
IV. ENGINE EXPERIMENTS 2 3
A. PURPOSE OFTESTS 2 3
B. DESCRIPTION OF TEST EQUIPMENT 2 4
1. Engine description and installation 2 4
2. Support and control equipment 2 5
..
3 Test stand 2 5
.
C SCOPE AND METHOD OFTESTS 2 7
D. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 2 7
General 2 7
1
2. Thrust measurements 2 8
3. Vane control power measurements 2 9
a. General 2 9
b. Dual-vane roll-control power 3 2
c. Four-vane roll-control power 3 2
d. Pitch control power modelling 3 4
AROD
4. Effect on thrust from blockage in duct 3 8
5. Impact of propwash on vane position 3 9
a. Noise 4 3
b. Fuel flow 4 4
c. Acceleration/deceleration characteristics 4 5
d. Reliability 4 5
V. WING SPAR DESIGN, FABRICATION AND TEST 4 6
A. GENERAL 4 6
B. WING SPAR DESIGN AND FABRICATION 4 6
1 Design load 4 6
2. Forward spar design and attachment 4 8
3. Aft spar design and attachment 5
4. Integration of NPS spars with Aquila wing spars 5
C WING SPAR EXPERIMENTS
5 2
1 . Initial component testing 5 2
vi