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Aerospace
Special Issues
Aerodynamic Numerical Optimization in UAV Design
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Aerodynamic Numerical Optimization in UAV Design

A special issue of Aerospace (ISSN 2226-4310). This special issue belongs to the section "Aeronautics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2024 | Viewed by 2294

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Aleksandar M. Simonović

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Aerospace Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Belgrade, Kraljice Marije 16, 11120 Belgrade 35, Serbia
Interests: modeling and simulation; aerodynamics; fluid mechanics; computational fluid dynamics; numerical simulation; numerical modeling; numerical analysis; CFD simulation; computational fluid mechanics; turbulence

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Contemporary Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) come with diverse aerodynamic configuration solutions, allowing their utilization in a wide range of challenging and demanding operational conditions.

Custom-tailored UAVs have evolved in various industries to meet predetermined mission profiles. Precision agriculture, construction and infrastructure, filmmaking and photography, environmental monitoring, logistics and delivery, mining and resource exploration, oil and gas, search and rescue, security and surveillance, and surveying and mapping are just some of the industries that have been substantially influenced by their development.

The progressive development of UAVs featuring remote or automated flight and mission controls has superseded manned aircraft, eliminating the need for onboard pilots in many critical roles.

While these technologies have seen significant progress in recent years and play a vital role in these domains, there is a growing need to optimize their aerodynamic characteristics in order to enhance their performance, stability, maneuverability, effectiveness, and efficiency.

Aerodynamic numerical optimization is essential in the design of UAVs. Optimized aerodynamics enable higher flight speeds, longer endurance, and increased payload capacity, resulting in improved operational efficiency and increased stability and maneuverability, allowing UAVs to perform complex missions and tasks with precision.

Moreover, optimized designs can reduce energy consumption and extend flight times with a positive environmental impact.

Therefore, exploring and investigating the field of aerodynamic numerical optimization is crucial to unlocking the full potential of UAVs across various sectors.

Furthermore, with notable advancements in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and optimization methods, traditional approaches to UAV design that rely heavily on experimental testing and analytical models can be circumvented in order to efficiently explore, investigate, and enhance the aerodynamic characteristics of UAVs.

This Special Issue focuses on the state-of-the-art advancements in and applications of aerodynamic numerical optimization techniques in UAV design to explore the progress, applications, and challenges in this field.

Prof. Dr. Aleksandar M. Simonović
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Aerospace is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)
  • aerodynamic design optimization
  • aerodynamic shape optimization
  • optimization design
  • multi-objective optimization (MDO)
  • airfoil
  • wing
  • propeller
  • computational fluid dynamics (CFD)
  • aerodynamic configuration

Published Papers (2 papers)

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20 pages, 11247 KiB  
Article
Lateral-Directional Aerodynamic Optimization of a Tandem Wing UAV Using CFD Analyses
by Ivan Kostić, Aleksandar Simonović, Olivera Kostić, Dušan Ivković and Dragoljub Tanović
Aerospace 2024, 11(3), 223; https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace11030223 - 13 Mar 2024
Viewed by 819
Abstract
This paper presents the second stage of a tandem fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) aerodynamic development. In the initial stage, the UAV was optimized by analyzing its characteristics only in symmetrical flight conditions. Posted requirements were that both wings should produce relevant positive [...] Read more.
This paper presents the second stage of a tandem fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) aerodynamic development. In the initial stage, the UAV was optimized by analyzing its characteristics only in symmetrical flight conditions. Posted requirements were that both wings should produce relevant positive lift, the initial stall must occur on the front wing first, the center of pressure should be close to the center of gravity, and longitudinal static stability should be in the optimum range. Computational fluid dynamic (CFD) analyses were performed, where the applied calculation model was derived from the authors’ previous successful projects. The eighth version TW V8 has satisfied all longitudinal requirements. Lateral-directional CFD analyses of V8 showed that the ratio of the lateral and directional stability at the nominal cruising regime was optimal, but both lateral and directional static stabilities were too high. On further development versions, the lower vertical tail was eliminated, a negative dihedral was implemented on the front wing, and four inverted blended winglets were added. Version TW V14 has largely improved lateral and directional stability characteristics, while their optimum ratio at the cruising regime was preserved. Longitudinal characteristics were also well preserved. Maximum lift coefficient and lift-to-drag ratio were increased, compared to the V8. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aerodynamic Numerical Optimization in UAV Design)
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17 pages, 4381 KiB  
Article
The Aerodynamic Performance of a Novel Overlapping Octocopter Considering Horizontal Wind
by Yao Lei, Jie Wang and Yazhou Li
Aerospace 2023, 10(10), 902; https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace10100902 - 22 Oct 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1120
Abstract
This paper investigates the aerodynamic performance of an overlapping octocopter with the effect of horizontal wind ranging from 0 to 4 m/s using both low-speed wind tunnel tests and numerical simulations. The hovering efficiency and the potential control strategies of the octocopter under [...] Read more.
This paper investigates the aerodynamic performance of an overlapping octocopter with the effect of horizontal wind ranging from 0 to 4 m/s using both low-speed wind tunnel tests and numerical simulations. The hovering efficiency and the potential control strategies of the octocopter under the effect of horizontal wind are also validated using blade element momentum theory. The velocity distribution, rotor pressure and vortex of the downwash flow with the horizontal wind are presented using the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) method. Finally, wind tunnel tests were performed to obtain the thrust and power consumption with the rotor speed ranging from 1500 to 2200 rpm for horizontal winds at 0 m/s, 2.5 m/s and 4 m/s. The results showed that horizontal wind decreased the flight efficiency of the planar octocopter and had little effect on the coaxial octocopter. It is also interesting to note that horizontal wind is beneficial for thrust increments at a higher rotor speed and power decrements at a lower rotor speed for the overlapping octocopter. Specifically, the horizontal wind of 2.5 m/s for a lower rpm is presented with a power decrement with proper aerodynamic interference between the rotor blades. Additionally, the overlapping octocopter obtains a higher hover efficiency at 4 m/s compared to traditional octocopters, which is more suitable for flying in a cross wind with a more compact structure. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aerodynamic Numerical Optimization in UAV Design)
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