Multidisciplinary Design and Prototype Development of a Micro Air Vehicle

Abstract

This paper discusses the application of multidiscipli nary design optimization (MDO) methodology for the design of a very small remotely piloted airplane for a short-range reconnaissance mission. Low Reynolds number aerodynamics and size requirements are used as primary drivers in the conceptual design of the vehicle, and are combined with performance, stability, propulsion, and weight constraints in the design optimization problem. With vehicle size as the objective function, the constrained optimization problem is solved using a penalty function method. Following the analytical validation of the MDO-based design, a prototype of the design vehicle was developed and flight tested. The results of this investigation show that MDO methodology could be used as an enabling technology in creating nonconventional designs that aim at pushing the limits of flight in low Reynolds number regime. They also show that the level of technology incorporated in the propulsion, navigation and communication, and control systems plays a key role in determining the size and weight of micro air vehicles.