Performance Analysis of Empennage Configurations on a Surveillance and Monitoring Mission of a VTOL-Plane UAV Using a Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulation

A Vertical Take-Off and Landing-Plane (VTOL-Plane) is an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) that combines multirotor and fixed-wing configurations. It has a good cruise range compared to a VTOL vehicle. Furthermore, it can take-off and land vertically. This technology is ideal for surveillance/monitoring...

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Main Authors: Gesang Nugroho, Galih Zuliardiansyah, Azhar Aulia Rasyiddin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-04-01
Series:Aerospace
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4310/9/4/208
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author Gesang Nugroho
Galih Zuliardiansyah
Azhar Aulia Rasyiddin
author_facet Gesang Nugroho
Galih Zuliardiansyah
Azhar Aulia Rasyiddin
author_sort Gesang Nugroho
collection DOAJ
description A Vertical Take-Off and Landing-Plane (VTOL-Plane) is an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) that combines multirotor and fixed-wing configurations. It has a good cruise range compared to a VTOL vehicle. Furthermore, it can take-off and land vertically. This technology is ideal for surveillance/monitoring missions and transmitting data in real-time. This study discusses the design of a VTOL-Plane with a preset Design Requirement Objectives (DRO), namely a Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) of 14 kg, a cruise speed of 23 m/s, and a cruising range of 6 h. To maximize the performance, the empennage configurations on the VTOL-Plane varied, and then a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation was carried out. The empennage configurations analyzed were a U-shaped boom, an inverted U-shaped boom, an inverted V-tail boom, and a semi-inverted V-tail boom. The interpreted performance related to the stalling angle, flight efficiency, stability, stall speed, and maneuverability. The relative wind directions toward the longitudinal axis of the UAV, also called the sideslip angle, were varied. The CFD simulation results showed that the empennage configuration of the inverted U-shaped boom is suitable for a surveillance mission. This article also optimized the final empennage design by adding a vertical fin to improve stability.
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spelling doaj.art-3e18aab648a041cab948ca96cba52faa2023-12-01T00:22:16ZengMDPI AGAerospace2226-43102022-04-019420810.3390/aerospace9040208Performance Analysis of Empennage Configurations on a Surveillance and Monitoring Mission of a VTOL-Plane UAV Using a Computational Fluid Dynamics SimulationGesang Nugroho0Galih Zuliardiansyah1Azhar Aulia Rasyiddin2Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta 55284, IndonesiaDepartment of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta 55284, IndonesiaDepartment of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta 55284, IndonesiaA Vertical Take-Off and Landing-Plane (VTOL-Plane) is an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) that combines multirotor and fixed-wing configurations. It has a good cruise range compared to a VTOL vehicle. Furthermore, it can take-off and land vertically. This technology is ideal for surveillance/monitoring missions and transmitting data in real-time. This study discusses the design of a VTOL-Plane with a preset Design Requirement Objectives (DRO), namely a Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) of 14 kg, a cruise speed of 23 m/s, and a cruising range of 6 h. To maximize the performance, the empennage configurations on the VTOL-Plane varied, and then a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation was carried out. The empennage configurations analyzed were a U-shaped boom, an inverted U-shaped boom, an inverted V-tail boom, and a semi-inverted V-tail boom. The interpreted performance related to the stalling angle, flight efficiency, stability, stall speed, and maneuverability. The relative wind directions toward the longitudinal axis of the UAV, also called the sideslip angle, were varied. The CFD simulation results showed that the empennage configuration of the inverted U-shaped boom is suitable for a surveillance mission. This article also optimized the final empennage design by adding a vertical fin to improve stability.https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4310/9/4/208VTOL-Plane UAVempennage configurationcomputational fluid dynamics simulation
spellingShingle Gesang Nugroho
Galih Zuliardiansyah
Azhar Aulia Rasyiddin
Performance Analysis of Empennage Configurations on a Surveillance and Monitoring Mission of a VTOL-Plane UAV Using a Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulation
Aerospace
VTOL-Plane UAV
empennage configuration
computational fluid dynamics simulation
title Performance Analysis of Empennage Configurations on a Surveillance and Monitoring Mission of a VTOL-Plane UAV Using a Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulation
title_full Performance Analysis of Empennage Configurations on a Surveillance and Monitoring Mission of a VTOL-Plane UAV Using a Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulation
title_fullStr Performance Analysis of Empennage Configurations on a Surveillance and Monitoring Mission of a VTOL-Plane UAV Using a Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulation
title_full_unstemmed Performance Analysis of Empennage Configurations on a Surveillance and Monitoring Mission of a VTOL-Plane UAV Using a Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulation
title_short Performance Analysis of Empennage Configurations on a Surveillance and Monitoring Mission of a VTOL-Plane UAV Using a Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulation
title_sort performance analysis of empennage configurations on a surveillance and monitoring mission of a vtol plane uav using a computational fluid dynamics simulation
topic VTOL-Plane UAV
empennage configuration
computational fluid dynamics simulation
url https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4310/9/4/208
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