A Novel Ducted-Fan UAV Model Using Magnus Effect Steering Engine

Abstract

This current article presents a ducted-fan unmanned aerial vehicle model based on the Magnus effect. The steering engine of this model consists of four cylinders that are symmetrically installed at the aft inside the duct. The interaction between the rotating cylinder surface and the duct jet flow creates aerodynamic lift (control input), which is proportional to angular velocity of the cylinder. This phenomenon is referred to as the Magnus effect in fluid mechanics. As a common problem in the ducted-fan unmanned aerial vehicles, the pitch-forward (roll-forward) stability is highly sensitive to the yaw motion. A self-adjusting function on the aerodynamic lift is thus needed for the steering engine controller to retain pitch-forward stability. For this purpose, this paper proposes a coordinated design method of steering engine controller and position-attitude controller based on integrated nonlinear flight dynamics and virtual force (torque) guidance. The feasibility of the proposed ducted-fan unmanned aerial vehicle model is shown by simulations.