@inproceedings{693b97d271324c68828e4a505d80d3bf,
title = "A novel unmanned aircraft with solid-state control surfaces: Analysis and flight demonstration",
abstract = "This paper presents the final results of the 2010 Virginia Tech Wing Morphing Design Team (a senior design project between the departments of Mechanical Engineering and Aerospace and Ocean Engineering) which has developed a completely servo-less, piezoelectric controlled, wind tunnel and flight tested, remotely piloted aircraft. A type of piezoceramic composite actuator known as Macro-Fiber Composite (MFC) is used for changing the camber of all control surfaces on the aircraft. The aircraft is analyzed theoretically for its two- and three- dimensional aerodynamic characteristics to aid the design of the piezoelectric control surfaces. A vortex-lattice analysis complemented the database of aerodynamic derivatives used to analyze control response. Steady state roll rates are measured in a wind tunnel and compared to a similar aircraft with servomotor actuated control surfaces. The theoretical analysis and wind tunnel testing demonstrated the stability and control authority of the concept, culminating in a landmark first flight of the completely MFC controlled aircraft on April 29, 2010. An electric motor driven propulsion system is used to generate thrust and all systems (including the high voltage converters) are powered with a single Lithium-Polymer battery. This vehicle became the first completely MFC controlled, flight tested aircraft. It is also known to be the first fully solid-state piezoelectric material controlled, non-tethered, flight tested fixed-wing aircraft.",
author = "Onur Bilgen and Butt, {Lauren M.} and Day, {Steven R.} and Sossi, {Craig A.} and Weaver, {Joseph P.} and Artur Wolek and Mason, {William H.} and Inman, {Daniel J.}",
note = "Funding Information: This work is supported by the G.R. Goodson Professorship endowment. The authors would like to thank Mr. Thomas Daue and the Smart-Material Corporation for providing the MFC actuators. The authors are grateful for the support of AFOSR Grant Number FA9550-09-1-0625 {"}Simultaneous Vibration Suppression and Energy Harvesting{"} under the direction of {"}Les{"} Lee. The financial support of the Aerospace and Ocean Engineering Department is also acknowledged. Wind tunnel tests were possible with the help of Dr. William J. Devenport at the Aerospace and Ocean Engineering Department. The authors would like to thank colleagues at the Center for Intelligent Material Systems and Structures (CIMSS) for their support with experiments and theoretical questions.; 52nd AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics and Materials Conference ; Conference date: 04-04-2011 Through 07-04-2011",
year = "2011",
doi = "10.2514/6.2011-2071",
language = "English (US)",
isbn = "9781600869518",
series = "Collection of Technical Papers - AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics and Materials Conference",
booktitle = "52nd AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics and Materials Conference",
}