Wing/Wall Aerodynamic Interactions in Free Flying, Maneuvering MAVS

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-2014

Publication Source

International Journal of Micro Air Vehicles

Abstract

Micro Air Vehicle (MAV) surveillance in the urban environment involves many aerodynamic hazards such as flying in close proximity to walls. The aerodynamic interactions between a maneuvering MAV's wingtip vortex and its proximity to a building wall could potentially affect the MAV's flight controls. The present study investigates the magnitude of this interaction using a fixed wing MAV vehicle in free flight particle image velocimetry (PIV) and wind tunnel testing. Elliptical instabilities in the wingtip vortex near the wall are discovered in the PIV testing while the wind tunnel results show an increase in aircraft lift coefficient near the wall.

In extremely close proximity to the wall, it induces a slight rolling moment on the airplane. A MAV may need to anticipate this behavior and adjust its flight controls to successfully complete its mission in an urban environment.

Inclusive pages

89-103

ISBN/ISSN

1756-8293

Comments

Permission documentation is on file.

Publisher

SAGE Publications

Volume

6

Issue

2

Peer Reviewed

yes

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