Angle of Attack Sensor for Small Fixed-Wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Kriangkrai Wanngoen,Suradet Tantrairatn,Watcharapol Saengphet,Nanthawat Saetunand

doi:10.3390/proceedings2019039019

Kriangkrai Wanngoen, Suradet Tantrairatn + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2019039019

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Publication Date: Jan 7, 2020

License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Suranaree University of Technology

Abstract

The angle of attack (AOA) is an important parameter for estimating aerodynamic parameter the performance and stability of aircraft. Currently, AOA sensors are used in general aircraft. However, there is no a reasonable-price AOA sensor that is compatible to a small fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). This research aims to designs and constructs angle of attract (AOA) sensor for small fixed-wing unmanned aircraft. Mechanism Design, which is similar to aerodynamic wheatear vane, can operate in airspeed 10–30 m/s. The direction of airfoil aligns with the air flow direction. When the AOA of the UAV changes, the air flow changes the direction, resulting in the change of airfoil direction. The high-resolution rotary encoder, that was used to measure the angle of the airfoil, was installed with the fin airfoil. For experiment, the accuracy of the AOA sensor was validated by comparing the angles obtained from the encoder with the standard rotary table in static and wind tunnel. Finally, the AOA sensor, which was attached on aircraft, was verified and recorded in flight test. As the results of the measurement, the airfoil angles detected by the encoder were in good agreement with the standard angles.

Highlights

The angle of attack (AOA) is an angle between the direction of airflow and the cord-line of the aircraft’s wing
When the angle sensor is rotated by 5 degrees at the air speed range of 10–30 m/s to measure the angle of the fin and the angle sensor, it is found that the measured angle of the fin and the measured angle collected from the angle sensor had an average difference of 5 degrees
The AOA sensor for small aircraft has two main components: a mechanism for measuring wind direction and a sensor for measuring the angle of rotation of the device. It must have an asymmetric cross-sectional shape to be able to respond to the change in the wind direction as low as 1 degree

Summary

Introduction

The angle of attack (AOA) is an angle between the direction of airflow and the cord-line of the aircraft’s wing. It is used to determine aircraft performance and stability that help user to know the limit of aircraft. The angle of attack instruments is usually employed for general aircraft to evaluate flight safety. These instruments help to prevent stalling in large and heavy aircraft that usually fly at high speed [1]. There is no actual application for using with fixed-wing RC plane, VTOL aircraft, and small power electric fixed-wing UAVs. For the research, the angle of attack instruments is only used for designing the fin

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Conclusion