Development of Airframe for Unmanned VTOL Flying Platform

Abstract

A challenging issue associated with fixed wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) is that these vehicles are often not appropriate for operating effectively in limited airspace. This problem emerges especially in urban environment where the usage of a runway is not possible, and UAVs usually have to fly at a relatively low speed and altitude. The development of a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) fixed-wing plane is a promising trend which hopefully will solve this issue. This project aims to address difficulties relating to reconnaissance and surveillance for military and civilian applications. The design concept simplifies tilt-rotor systems by using only the control fins to shift from horizontal to vertical flight and vice-versa, allowing the motor/rotor elements to be fixed. All the basic maneuvering of the aircraft is handled by the control surfaces of the airframe. The system consists of one wing with two motors and two elevons creating a tractor configuration airframe. The active flow over the surfaces assists in VTOL and allows the aircraft to seamlessly carry out vertical flight, such as hovering, and offer maneuverability at slow speeds during horizontal flight.