Grant: Alliance Grants
University of Alberta
$100,000.00
Application of Fixed-Wings in Multi-Rotor Drones for Additional Lift
FY 2021-22
Summary
The durability of aerial vehicles are essential in the air mobility industry and drones operations. To this end, the aerodynamics efficiency and flight effectiveness of these systems are crucial in reducing drag and enhancing lift towards longer flight time. Multi-rotor drones, i.e., hexacopter, are designed for optimized maneuverability and effective landing/take-off in urban communities. However, this design is not efficient in cruising conditions, in which drones fly on a straight path with a constant tilt angle. Both the constant speed and tilt angle of the drones provide a suitable operating condition for fixed-wing aircraft to generate additional lift. Thus, we introduce the concept of a deployable Universal Lift Enhancement Device (ULED), in the form of a fixed or quasi-fixed wing, for multi-rotor drones. Using a combination of fundamental studies on unsteady wakes, aerodynamics of wings, and propeller downwash effects, this project aims to develop and test a prototype for an ULED under normal and maximum operating conditions for a hexacopter drone. This project combines numerical simulations using advanced in-house flow models and experimental studies in wind tunnels to optimize the design concept of ULED for deployment on a hexacopter. The final outcome of this project is well-trained engineers with unique skills in aerodynamics, aerospace and data analysis, as well as an operational ULED that enhances lift generation in multi-rotor drones. The latter has major implications in the air mobility industry, as well as civilian drones operations. The final outcome of this project is longer durability of drones, which has major impacts on the improved energy safety surveillance operations in northern Canada as well as lower emission air mobility. The knowledge gained and technology developed in this project (i.e., ULED) has significant indications on the renewable energy industry (wind and hydro-turbines), energy transportation industry (pipeline monitoring) and agriculture industry (crop production monitoring and optimization).
Program
Alliance Grants
Recipient
Location
Alberta, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
567789-2021
Name nom
Hemmati, Arman
Department département
Mechanical Engineering
Organization id
9
Institution établissement
University of Alberta
Province en
Alberta
Province fr
Alberta
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2021
Competition year année de concours
2021
Award amount
100000
Program id
ALLRP
Program name en
Alliance Grants
Program name fr
Subventions Alliance
Group en
Research partnerships programs
Group fr
Programmes de partenariat
Committee code
96
Committee name en
RPP Internal Decision Cttee
Committee name fr
Cté de décision interne - PPR
Area of application code
703
Area of application group en
Transportation systems and services
Area of application group fr
Services et systèmes de transport
Area of application en
Aerospace
Area of application fr
Aérospatial
Research subject code
2200
Research subject group en
Fluid mechanics
Research subject group fr
Mécanique des fluides
Research subject en
Fluid mechanics
Research subject fr
Mécanique des fluides
Installment
inst:1
Partie
1
Nb partie
2
Application title
Application of Fixed-Wings in Multi-Rotor Drones for Additional Lift
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
The durability of aerial vehicles are essential in the air mobility industry and drones operations. To this end, the aerodynamics efficiency and flight effectiveness of these systems are crucial in reducing drag and enhancing lift towards longer flight time. Multi-rotor drones, i.e., hexacopter, are designed for optimized maneuverability and effective landing/take-off in urban communities. However, this design is not efficient in cruising conditions, in which drones fly on a straight path with a constant tilt angle. Both the constant speed and tilt angle of the drones provide a suitable operating condition for fixed-wing aircraft to generate additional lift. Thus, we introduce the concept of a deployable Universal Lift Enhancement Device (ULED), in the form of a fixed or quasi-fixed wing, for multi-rotor drones. Using a combination of fundamental studies on unsteady wakes, aerodynamics of wings, and propeller downwash effects, this project aims to develop and test a prototype for an ULED under normal and maximum operating conditions for a hexacopter drone. This project combines numerical simulations using advanced in-house flow models and experimental studies in wind tunnels to optimize the design concept of ULED for deployment on a hexacopter. The final outcome of this project is well-trained engineers with unique skills in aerodynamics, aerospace and data analysis, as well as an operational ULED that enhances lift generation in multi-rotor drones. The latter has major implications in the air mobility industry, as well as civilian drones operations. The final outcome of this project is longer durability of drones, which has major impacts on the improved energy safety surveillance operations in northern Canada as well as lower emission air mobility. The knowledge gained and technology developed in this project (i.e., ULED) has significant indications on the renewable energy industry (wind and hydro-turbines), energy transportation industry (pipeline monitoring) and agriculture industry (crop production monitoring and optimization).
