Abstract
This paper presents a novel framework for the design of a low altitude long endurance solar-powered UAV for multiple-day flight. The genetic algorithm is used to optimize wing airfoil using CST parameterization, along with wing, horizontal and vertical tail geometry. The mass estimation model presented in this paper is based on structural layout, design and available materials used in the fabrication of similar UAVs. This model also caters for additional weight due to the change in wing airfoil. The configuration is optimized for a user-defined static margin, thereby incorporating static stability in the optimization. Longitudinal and lateral control systems are developed for the optimized configuration using the inner–outer loop strategy with an LQR and PID controller, respectively. A six degree-of-freedom nonlinear simulation is performed for the validation of the proposed control scheme. The results of nonlinear simulations are in good agreement with static analysis, validating the complete design process.
Highlights
At present, aviation focuses on economic, fuel-efficient, and long-endurance systems that incur low operating costs
Photovoltaic cells mounted on wings can be used to capture solar energy during the daytime
If sufficient solar energy can be stored in onboard batteries during the day to last the succeeding night, we can design an aircraft that can fly for years
Summary
Aviation focuses on economic, fuel-efficient, and long-endurance systems that incur low operating costs. If sufficient solar energy can be stored in onboard batteries during the day to last the succeeding night, we can design an aircraft that can fly for years These solar-powered aircraft can fly forever, and their endurance is limited only by the reliability of the subsystems. The present work is about the design and optimization of fixed-wing low altitude long endurance solar-powered UAVs. The design process of solar airplanes was not published in the early stages of solar flights [5]. We replace the surface area in Equation (4) with the aspect ratio, AR, to obtain the following equation: Plevel
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