April 20, 2012

Blended Wing Body Aircraft Investigating Green Aircraft Technologies

Aerospace Engineering Design Symposium

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Lydia McDowell Kristin Uhmeyer Gauravdev Soin

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Agenda CU Aerospace Engineering Sciences:

Graduate Project

• Project Overview • Aerodynamics / Structures / Manufacturing • GNC / Autopilot • Propulsion • Prototype Testing

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Hyperion Overview CU Aerospace Engineering Sciences:

Graduate Project

Hyperion Goals Blended Wing Body aircraft investigating technologies for reductions in:

• Noise • Fuel Consumption • Emission

Novel Features

Hybrid Engine

Carbon Fiber

Autopilot

BWB

Blended Wing Body Considerations:

• Airfoil Characteristics

• Stall location

• Optimized wing endings

• Propeller downwash – CG shift

Aerodynamic Design

Existing center body

Hyperion 1.0 wing design

Hyperion 2.0 wing design

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Structure Redesign

Aluminum Integration Bracket Connection between wing and center body

3 ft 2 in 10 ft 10 ft 6 in

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Current Status

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External Composite Wing Manufacturing

Autoclave High temperature and pressure cures carbon fiber

Wing Dissection Smaller pieces for 3D printer Mold Layup Connecting

mold pieces together

Wing Molds Top and Bottom wing halves

Internal Structure Manufacturing

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6/4/2012

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Right Wing Ribs and spars to be manufactured

C-Spar Spar running entire wing length, reduces twisting

Servo Mount Attachment to C-Spar 5 Ribs Structural ribs within wing

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Autonomous Flight System Overview

Navigation Guidance Control Determination of Attitude & Location

Determination of Flight Path

Execution of Control Logic

Why Autonomous Flight? • Enhanced payload capabilities • Creating a research platform

Chosen Autopilot: Cloud Cap Tech Piccolo SL

Remote controlled takeoff, autonomous flight, remote

controlled landing

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Systems Engineering Process

Driving Question: How do we design for on-time autopilot deployment and successful flights? Analysis and Simulation: • Plane model (AVL, XFOIL) • Engine models • Create flight plans • Software in the Loop

Risk Mitigation: • Train pilot in software model • Verify plane model with R/C piloting • Prepare flight anomaly responses

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Systems Engineering Process

Driving Question: How do we design for on-time autopilot deployment and successful flights? Hardware Testing: • Hardware-In-The-Loop • Sensor, communications hardware

testing

Integration: • Surface, sensor, controller calibration • Dream Mode • Servo integration with structure • Demonstrate capability of sensors in

the field in R/C piloting -15 °

RC/Autopilot Flight Test Plan Map

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B

A

Wind

C

E

0.5

Mile

s

Ascending or Descending Straight and Level

Pitching up and down

D F

TABLE MOUNTAIN FLIGHT TEST AREA • Fly R/C to verify long-distance communications and flight models • Execute flight plan shown

Gas Combustion Engine

Project Novelty – Hybrid Propulsion

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Design, build and test a hybrid propulsion system to be integrated into the Hyperion blended wing-body aircraft

Hybrid Gas-Electric Propulsion

Coaxial drive: Increased efficiency

Multiple operation modes

Focus: Reliable Operations

Electric Motor & Gearbox

Project Testing Process

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Novel Hybrid Propulsion System

• Tested on RASCAL aircraft

- Proven Aerodynamics

- More stable, easier to fly

Hyperion 2.0 Flight Testing

• Initial Testing w/ Electric Motor

- New wing design

- Safer testing approach

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Prototype Testing

Purpose of Half-Scale Prototypes • Prove aerodynamic design

• Understand dynamic behavior

• Cheap and proven test method

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Hyperion Team

Hyperion 2.0 Team • 17 Grads, 2 Undergrads

• Aero, EE, MechE, Business • 2 Students from University of

Stuttgart

GNC Team GNC in Fleming building workspace

Manufacturing the wing mold at EBS Carbon

A special thanks to… Advisors/Sponsors/Customers:

Dr. Jean Koster of CU Joseph Tanner of CU Dr. Brian Argrow of CU Dr. Eric Frew of CU Trudy Schwartz of CU Matt Rhode of CU Mike Kisska of Boeing Frank Doerner of Boeing Diane Dimeff of eSpace Eric Strauss of EBS Carbon Jack Elston of RECUV James Mack (Pilot) Tom Reynolds of Samuel Engineering

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Acknowledgements

The Team: Kristen Brenner Corrina Gibson Nathan Jastram Michael Johnosn Eric Kenney Jeremy Klammer (SE) Lydia McDowell Raj Nair Boris Papazov (PM) Vibin Sankaranarayanan Gauradev Soin Kristin Uhmeyer Robert Whitehill Weston Willits

Past and External Student Help:

Andrew Gemer Mark Riley Alex North Chuck Kreuter Mikhail Kosyan Taylor Petersen Scott Balaban Benjamin Arnold (of University of Stuttgart) Pascal Weihing (of University of Stuttgart)

Questions?

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