Flight Vehicle Design and Testing Group: Research
Research
Design work is in progress for a solar-regenerative high altitude deployable/morphing unmanned aircraft that utilizes highly-flexible polyimide-film wings with flexible solar panels, and is powered electrically with a fuel-cell system. Patents are developed on the concept. The novel aircraft requires advancements in design methods, aerodynamics, structures, propulsion and fuel cell systems integration, and control and operations. Past FVDT student research examples include:
- CHighly flexible wing experimental aerodynamic testing
- Leading-edge vortex flap design and analysis
- Aerodynamic computational model of wing deployment as a function of altitude
- Surface pressure measurements and packable wing structural layout analysis
Customer
Jerome Pearson
Star Technologies Inc.
Collaborators
Dr. Gerald Gregorek, Prof. Emeritus, OSU
Orion America Technologies
North Carolina State University
John Oldson
Student Researchers
The following students conduct(ed) research for this design project:
- Kegan Buchhop
- Andito Eddy
- Greg Rhodes
- Jacob Allenstein
- Ben Wagner
Design studies are in progress of a high efficient adaptive soaring wing with multiple winglets utilizing persistent on-board sensing and control. The multi-winglet design work originated for the use of general aviation aircraft, and was further adapted for an active military small-scaled reconnaissance unmanned system. The current design research builds upon on the existing framework. The novel aircraft requires interdisciplinary research in materials applications, control dynamics, on-board sensing, and in-flight design adaptation for optimum performance, and has broad impacts in both aerospace industry and defense applications.
Student Researchers
The following students conduct(ed) research for this design project:
- Boliang Meng
With recent in-house developments of flight test performance techniques and on-board data acquisition hardware specific for small unmanned aerial systems, the challenge was set out to continue to advance the flight test technique’s capabilities and on-board technology. The design objective was to layout an initial design that was “aerodynamically interesting” with non-linear performance characteristics, and adaptable for multiple geometric wing configurations. The design is a baseline experimental platform for future flight test methods and novel aircraft technologies development, and configuration layout design studies. Additional design feature interests included a platform that was scalable for higher-speeds, highly maneuverable at lower-speeds, and a well-established initial wing layout for testing verification purposes. The aircraft design supports current FVDT student research in experimental wing analysis and airframe/engine integration in high maneuvering flight operations.
Collaborators
Dr. Matt McCrink, Research Scientist, OSU
Dr. Jim Gregory, Professor, OSU
Student Researchers
The following students conduct(ed) research for this design project:
- Jake Brandon
- Colin Trussa
Design studies are in progress of a high-speed low-observable uninhabited aircraft capable of water landings and underwater submersion.
Student Researchers
The following students conduct(ed) research for this design project:
- Austin Petsche
Design work is on going for an air launched and recorverable (ALAR) unmanned aircraft from a C-130 Hercules aircraft. An unmanned aircraft systems that is capable of being launched from a C-130 in flight, operate in the field, and return to the C-130 and be recovered in flight, signficantly expands the on-station support of our nation's defense personnel.
Student Researchers
The following students conduct research for this design project:
- Cole Robertson
Additional recent student design research activities included:
- Experimental investigation of the fuselage-propulsor concept
- Jet engine inlet flow improvement device design for turbine-powered helicopters
- Inverted airfoil design feature studies in ground effect
- Applying radar cross-section estimation techniques in conceptual design
- Personal vertical take-off and landing transport aircraft
Student Researchers
The following students conduct(ed) research on these topics:
- Greg Rhodes
- Daniel Riley
- Matthew Aultmann
- Jillian Yuricich