Double Hybrid Tailsitter Unmanned Aerial Vehicle With Vertical Takeoff and Landing

Abstract

We propose a new double-hybrid concept and architectural design of a tailsitter unmanned aerial vehicle with vertical takeoff and landing capability. Basically, it consists of a modified flying wing with a single combustion powertrain set and a multirotor with 2 powertrain sets with electric motors. With the electric propellers fixed at the leading wing edge, the tailsitter has two standard surfaces for elevation control and two vertical stabilizers that are used to give the necessary direction on vertical takeoff and landing. We have designed, built, and tested a prototype based on this new double-hybrid concept, which spends less energy on vertical taking off and landing and also on horizontal flight, thus maximizing flight endurance and travelled distance. We performed several experimental tests starting with the aircraft on the ground in vertical positioning. These tests include executing vertical takeoffs and landing, transitions from vertical to horizontal flight modes and transitions back (from horizontal to vertical), and hovering, which were carried out successfully. Transitions fourth and back from combustion to multirotor are inherent to some of those flight mode transitions, which have also been performed smoothly. We also performed tests (in bench) to estimate the maximum flight duration, which has demonstrated about 32 minutes of endurance. To this end, the proposed and currently built double-hybrid prototype has proven to be functional as an effective hybrid UAV system.