Exploring the Impact of Rapidly Actuated Control Surfaces on Drone Aerodynamics
This study investigates the use of rapidly actuated leading-edge and trailing-edge control surfaces to improve the control authority of small fixed-wing drones. Static and dynamic characteristics were investigated and presented in two separate papers. In this paper, the focus is on the dynamic effec...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Drones |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2504-446X/7/8/494 |
| _version_ | 1797585012624719872 |
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| author | Ashim Panta Matthew Marino Alex Fisher Abdulghani Mohamed Simon Watkins |
| author_facet | Ashim Panta Matthew Marino Alex Fisher Abdulghani Mohamed Simon Watkins |
| author_sort | Ashim Panta |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study investigates the use of rapidly actuated leading-edge and trailing-edge control surfaces to improve the control authority of small fixed-wing drones. Static and dynamic characteristics were investigated and presented in two separate papers. In this paper, the focus is on the dynamic effects observed from rapidly actuated 30% chord leading- or trailing-edge hinged control surfaces affixed to two flat-plate airfoils. Forces were resolved from surface pressure measurements and are augmented by PIV measurements, smoke flow visualization and analyses. The static study revealed that trailing-edge control surfaces exhibited higher effectiveness in producing time-averaged <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msub><mi>C</mi><mi>L</mi></msub></semantics></math></inline-formula> compared to leading-edge control surfaces. However, leading-edge control surfaces exhibit significantly less fluctuation in pressure and lift coefficients at fixed angles of attack and control surface deflections, indicating better stability. Unsteady aerodynamic effects of the airfoil at <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mi>α</mi><mo>=</mo><msup><mn>0</mn><mo>∘</mo></msup></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> and “ramp” deflections of trailing- and leading-edge control surfaces from <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msup><mn>0</mn><mo>∘</mo></msup></semantics></math></inline-formula> to <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msup><mn>40</mn><mo>∘</mo></msup></semantics></math></inline-formula> with variations in actuation rates showed that <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msub><mi>C</mi><mi>L</mi></msub></semantics></math></inline-formula> peaks are approximately three to four times greater than static values for the case of the leading-edge control surface. This has significant implications for fixed-wing drone maneuverability and countering the effects of atmospheric turbulence. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T00:00:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e37be48b4add433f90c87def8809a30c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2504-446X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T00:00:41Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Drones |
| spelling | doaj.art-e37be48b4add433f90c87def8809a30c2023-11-19T00:50:08ZengMDPI AGDrones2504-446X2023-07-017849410.3390/drones7080494Exploring the Impact of Rapidly Actuated Control Surfaces on Drone AerodynamicsAshim Panta0Matthew Marino1Alex Fisher2Abdulghani Mohamed3Simon Watkins4RMIT UAS Research Laboratory, RMIT University, Bundoora 3083, AustraliaRMIT UAS Research Laboratory, RMIT University, Bundoora 3083, AustraliaRMIT UAS Research Laboratory, RMIT University, Bundoora 3083, AustraliaRMIT UAS Research Laboratory, RMIT University, Bundoora 3083, AustraliaRMIT UAS Research Laboratory, RMIT University, Bundoora 3083, AustraliaThis study investigates the use of rapidly actuated leading-edge and trailing-edge control surfaces to improve the control authority of small fixed-wing drones. Static and dynamic characteristics were investigated and presented in two separate papers. In this paper, the focus is on the dynamic effects observed from rapidly actuated 30% chord leading- or trailing-edge hinged control surfaces affixed to two flat-plate airfoils. Forces were resolved from surface pressure measurements and are augmented by PIV measurements, smoke flow visualization and analyses. The static study revealed that trailing-edge control surfaces exhibited higher effectiveness in producing time-averaged <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msub><mi>C</mi><mi>L</mi></msub></semantics></math></inline-formula> compared to leading-edge control surfaces. However, leading-edge control surfaces exhibit significantly less fluctuation in pressure and lift coefficients at fixed angles of attack and control surface deflections, indicating better stability. Unsteady aerodynamic effects of the airfoil at <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mi>α</mi><mo>=</mo><msup><mn>0</mn><mo>∘</mo></msup></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> and “ramp” deflections of trailing- and leading-edge control surfaces from <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msup><mn>0</mn><mo>∘</mo></msup></semantics></math></inline-formula> to <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msup><mn>40</mn><mo>∘</mo></msup></semantics></math></inline-formula> with variations in actuation rates showed that <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msub><mi>C</mi><mi>L</mi></msub></semantics></math></inline-formula> peaks are approximately three to four times greater than static values for the case of the leading-edge control surface. This has significant implications for fixed-wing drone maneuverability and countering the effects of atmospheric turbulence.https://www.mdpi.com/2504-446X/7/8/494leading-edge controlcontrol surfacerapid actuation |
| spellingShingle | Ashim Panta Matthew Marino Alex Fisher Abdulghani Mohamed Simon Watkins Exploring the Impact of Rapidly Actuated Control Surfaces on Drone Aerodynamics Drones leading-edge control control surface rapid actuation |
| title | Exploring the Impact of Rapidly Actuated Control Surfaces on Drone Aerodynamics |
| title_full | Exploring the Impact of Rapidly Actuated Control Surfaces on Drone Aerodynamics |
| title_fullStr | Exploring the Impact of Rapidly Actuated Control Surfaces on Drone Aerodynamics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring the Impact of Rapidly Actuated Control Surfaces on Drone Aerodynamics |
| title_short | Exploring the Impact of Rapidly Actuated Control Surfaces on Drone Aerodynamics |
| title_sort | exploring the impact of rapidly actuated control surfaces on drone aerodynamics |
| topic | leading-edge control control surface rapid actuation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2504-446X/7/8/494 |
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