Young-Seop Byun

Experimental and Numerical Investigation on Impact Performance of Carbon Reinforced Aluminum Laminates

It is known that fiber metal laminates (FML) as one of hybrid materials with thin metal sheets and fiber/epoxy layers have the characteristics of the excellent damage tolerance, fatigue and impact properties with a relatively low density. Therefore, the mechanical components using FML can contribute the enhanced safety level of the sound construction toward the whole body. In this study, the impact performance of carbon reinforced aluminum laminates (CARAL) is investigated by experiments and numerical simulations. Drop weight tests are carried out with the weight of 4.7 kg at the speed of 1 and 2 m/s, respectively. Dynamic non-linear transient analyses are also accomplished using a finite element analysis software, ABAQUS. The experiment results and numerical results are compared with impact load-time histories. Also, energy-time histories are applied to investigate the impact performance of CARAL.

Design and Fabrication of a small Coaxial Rotorcraft UAV

The rotorcraft-based unmanned aerial vehicle(UAV) capable of performing close-range surveillance and reconnaissance has been developed. Trade studies on mission feasibility led to the adoption of a coaxial rotorcraft with twin rotors counter-rotating in one axis and driven by electric motors. A commercial off-the-shelf flight control computer(FCC) and a radio frequency modem were adopted for autonomous navigation. In order to achieve an aerial view, commercial charge-coupled device camera was also integrated into the vehicle. The performance of the completed vehicle was proved with manual flight test, and mission capability was verified through waypoint navigation flight after being equipped with FCC. This paper treats the whole process of design and system integration for development of the coaxial rotorcraft UAV.

Study on Performance Prediction of Electric Propulsion System for Multirotor UAVs

This paper describes a study of performance prediction of an electric propulsion system for multirotor UAVs. The electric propulsion system consists of motors, propellers, batteries and speed controllers, and significantly affects performance characteristics of the platform. The performance of the electric propulsion system for multirotor UAVs was predicted using an analytical model derived from the characteristics of each component, operation experiments and statistical analyses. Ground performance tests and endurance flights were performed to verify the reliability of the proposed performance prediction method. A quadrotor platform was designed to demonstrate the parcel delivery service used in the endurance flight. From the result of verification tests, it was confirmed that the proposed method has a good agreement.

System identification and parameter estimation of a multi-rotor flying machine

In this paper, system identification and parameter estimation of an unmanned quad-rotor helicopter are presented. Flight test of quad-rotor UAV was conducted and acquired time domain flight data was used for system identification in transfer function form. Estimated responses from the TF models show very small discrepancy against experimental data. For confirmation of the transfer functions consistency validation task was also performed. A non-linear plant model was developed and different unknown parameters were estimated. The plant model can be used for dynamic behavior prediction of the quad-rotor aerial vehicle.

Conceptual Design and Development Test of an Unmanned Scaled-down Quad Tilt Prop PAV

This paper describes the conceptual design and development test procedure of a unmanned scaled-down personal air vehicle(PAV) with drive and flight dual mode capability. Trade studies on operational requirements led to the suggestion of a quad tilt prop platform which has nacelle tilt capability with multi rotor configuration. Motors for propeller propulsion and driving mechanism were integrated into a single nacelle, then they were implemented by nacelle tilt mechanism for conversion between the drive and the flight modes. Primary design parameters and initial specifications were confirmed through conceptual design, then functional tests were performed with the test platforms for the drive and the flight modes.

Study on Analysis of Vibration Characteristics and Modal Test for a Quad-Rotor Drone

This paper describes analysis results of vibration characteristics and modal test for a small-scale quad-rotor drone. The rotor arm has a slender body with a propeller and motor at its tip. Rotor system generates excitation for an unbalanced mass. Therefore, the drone platform is involved in the possibility of resonance. For advance identification of the possibility of resonance, confirmation of eigen-mode being closest to the propeller operation range is necessary. Material properties of CFRP tubes used for the rotor arm were acquired by finding the natural frequency based on Rayleigh method. A simplified quad-rotor FE model consisting of rotor arm assembly with tip mass was built to perform numerical analysis, and a free-free boundary condition was applied to provide flight status. Modal tests for the actual platform with impact hammer instrument were performed to verify analysis results. Separation margin from hazardous eigen-mode was checked on the propeller operation range.

Conceptual Study of a Smart Docking System for VTOL-UAV

AbstractThis paper describes the conceptual design of a vertical takeoff and landing unmanned aerial vehicle (VTOL-UAV), mountable on an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) for their combined operation as a team. The design aims to compensate for the weak points of each platform by providing carrying, launching, recovery, and recharging capabilities for the mounted VTOL-UAV through the host UGV. A sphere-shaped mechanical docking interface between the UAV–UGV is proposed to allow flexible and accurate positioning, and its operational concept with a coaxial rotorcraft UAV is suggested as one particular instance. A vision-based, target-tracking method to enhance the precision landing performance also was investigated and tested with a ground-based experimental setup.

Inflow Prediction and First Principles Modeling of a Coaxial Rotor Unmanned Aerial Vehicle in Forward Flight

When the speed of a coaxial rotor helicopter in forward flight increases, the wake skew angle of the rotor increases and consequently the position of the vena contracta of the upper rotor with respect to the lower rotor changes. Considering ambient air and the effect of the upper rotor, this study proposes a nonuniform inflow model for the lower rotor of a coaxial rotor helicopter in forward flight. The total required power of the coaxial rotor system was compared against Dingeldein’s experimental data, and the results of the proposed model were well matched. A plant model was also developed from first principles for flight simulation, unknown parameter estimation and control analysis. The coaxial rotor helicopter used for this study was manufactured for surveillance and reconnaissance and does not have any stabilizer bar. Therefore, a feedback controller was included during flight test and parameter estimation to overcome unstable situations. Predicted responses of parameter estimation and validation show good agreement with experimental data. Therefore, the methodology described in this paper can be used to develop numerical plant model, study non-uniform inflow model, conduct performance analysis and parameter estimation of coaxial rotor as well as other rotorcrafts in forward flight.

Conceptual Study on Coaxial Rotorcraft UAV for teaming operation with UGV

UAV-UGV teaming concept has been proposed that can compensate for weak points of each platform by providing carrying, launching, recovery and recharging capability for the VTOL-UAV through the host UGV. The teaming concept can expand the observation envelop of the UGV and extend the operational capability of the UAV through mechanical combination of each system. The spherical-shaped coaxial rotorcraft UAV is suggested to provide flexible and precise interface between two systems. Hybrid navigation solution that included vision-based target tracking method for precision landing is investigated and its experimental study is performed. Feasibility study on length-variable rotor to provide the compact configuration of the loaded rotorcraft platform is also described.