Rochester Institute of Technology Kate Gleason College of Engineering MAV and UAV Research at Rochester Institute of Technology Jason Grow – BS/MS Graduate

Rochester Institute of Technology Kate Gleason College of Engineering

MAV and UAV Research atRochester Institute of Technology

MAV and UAV Research atRochester Institute of Technology

Jason Grow– BS/MS Graduate of RIT– 2003-2004 MAV Team Lead– Boeing Phantom Works, HB– 714-372-9026– [email protected]

Andrew Streett– 5th year BS/MS Student– 2005-2006 MAV Team Lead

© 2005 Rochester Institute of Technology Kate Gleason College of Engineering

Outline• Introduction of MAV and UAV

• RIT Mechanical Engineering – Projects, Facilities and Research

• RIT MAV/UAV Integration Road Map and Research Thrusts

• MAV Research

• UAV Research

• 2005-2006 MAV/UAV Objectives

• Sponsorship Needs


History of MAV / UAV

• DARPA (1993) contracted Aerovironment to produce a MAV that had maximum linear dimensions of 6 inches

• Designed and built the Black Widow

• 1996 – International MAV Competition began for Universities• UF, UA, Notre Dame, Brigham Young

• This will be the 4th year that RIT has been involved in this research

• Endurance - 30 min

• Range – 1.8 km

• Video

• Flight Data – Heading, Speed, etc.

• UAV’s have become the next generation of intelligence

• Military and Civilian

• Military – Globalhawk and Aerovironment Pointer


R.I.T. Mechanical Engineering• Mechanical Engineering Students

• ~120 students per year• Variety of Concentrations offered

• Aerospace• Automotive• Bio-Engineering• Energy and Environment

• Mandatory Co-op (Significant presence with Boeing and other large corporations)

• Multi-Disciplinary Capstone Projects• Involves integrating senior design projects from all Engineering majors

• Mechanical, Electrical, Computer, Industrial and Software Engineering• Introduces program management, design process, etc.• System of System Engineering

• Graduate Programs• BS/MS Program• Controls, Thermo/Fluids and Structures Concentrations• Research funded by department and major corporations

• Boeing, Delphi, Kodak, Xerox, Borg-Warner, Valeo, General Mills, Sentry Safe and more…


M.E. Projects and Research • Projects

MAV/UAV SAE Formula One NASA Moonbuggy Team AIAA/SAE Aero Design Team

• Facilities Aero Lab Composites Lab Windtunnel MicroE Clean Room EE Labs


Under-graduate

Research & Design

GraduateResearch

Multi-DisciplinaryProjects

ME Labs and Facilities

• Aerospace Program

• Labs and Capabilities

• MAV/UAV Research

RIT Mechanical Engineering


Aero Lab

• Home of the SAE Aero Team

• Participates in the SAE Heavy Lift Competition

• 12 years of experience

• Allows students to get hands on experience

• Composites, team dynamics, design and build process, etc.


R.I.T. Composites Lab• Experience

RIT > 5 years Programs

MAV, UAV and Aero Moon-buggy Research SAE Formula Multiple Senior Design Projects

• Capabilities Material Testing

Tensile, Torsional and Vibration

• Classes Intro to Composite Materials Advanced Composite Materials


R.I.T. WindtunnelClosed Loop

Subsonic Wind Tunnel

• Ideal wind tunnel for MAV/UAV testing– 21” x 29” x 48” test section– Sustain speeds from 13 to 120 mph

• Load cell sting balance capable of both static and dynamic measurements of lift, drag, and pitching moment; variable angle of attack

• Resolution to ± 0.1 grams• Thrust Stand for dynamic propeller

testing• Fully Automated Lab-View Interface• Variety of projects have utilized

– Formula, graduate work, etc.


Aerospace Materials and AviationTechnology Laboratory (AMATL)

Student performs dye penetrant inspection on a horizontal stabilizer

• The AMATL merges a need for advanced materials analysis and the knowledge of aerospace structures into an interactive laboratory environment

• RIT is creating a Light-Sport Aircraft inspection course that will use full-scale aircraft.

– The 16-hour course gives students an “FAA accepted” completion certificate convertible to a Repairman certificate with inspection rating

• Can be used to perform legal inspections on Experimental Light Sport Aircraft (ELSA)

• Aerostructures in the lab will be used for NDE and aging aircraft structure research

• Undergraduates will apply statics and design of machine elements principles in “mini labs” offered at the AMATL

The lab currently has two full-scale Light Sport Aircraft:< 1320 lbs.< 120 kts. max cruise speedNo more than two passengers

• All RIT Mechanical Engineering undergraduates will experience 1 – 2 day labs in the AMATL in:

– Statics– Design of Machine Elements– Materials Science

• Some will experience more:– Aerostructures– Fatigue and fracture

• Outreach includes– Girl scout aerospace badge program– Boy scouts– 1 – 3 day experiences for middle school students

• Inspection certification for outstanding HS and Vo-Tech students


Current M.E. Research Thrusts • Micro Air Vehicle Platform (MAV)

– RIT Imaging Science and ME funded platform research– Going into 4th year of research– Attend International MAV Competition every year

• Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)– RIT Imaging Science and ME funded platform

research– Concentrate on Stability Augmentation Systems

– Inertial/GPS NAV, Stable Flight, Obstacle Avoidance, Advanced Communications

– Project will investigate new and advanced technologies for airframe capability

– UAV systems into MAV systems

• Micro-Turbine– Produces power from a high pressure source– 5 Watt source under 50 grams– Package can be integrated on UAV

– Produce electrical power or propeller power

• Inertial Navigation


R.I.T. MAV/UAV Road Map

StabilityAugmentation

System

Inertial Navigation System

Peer to Peer Communications

MAVPlatform

UAVPlatformObstacle

AvoidanceSystem

Micro Turbine

Alternative Power: Micro-Fuel Cell, Photovoltaic Cells

Advanced Composite & Manufacturing

1 year 2 year 3 year 4 year 5 year

Orinthopter

Smart Airframe: Morphable Surfaces, etc.

Hovering (Hybrid) Capability

Customer:• RIT Imaging Science• ???

Advanced Electronics

10 year


Previous MAV Research

Vehicle Performance

– Flight duration = 9 minutes

– Flight range = 450 meters

Swappable Payload ~ 20g

Overall mass ~ 90 g

Vehicle Dimensions

– 12” Span

– 6” Root Chord

– 4” Tip Chord

– AR = 2.32

Capability

– Black and White Video

Vehicle Performance– Flight duration = 11 minutes

– Flight range = 600+ meters

Swappable Payload ~ 40g

Overall mass ~ 183 g

Vehicle Dimensions– 18.5” Span

– 7.3” Root Chord

– 3.5” Tip Chord

Capability– Color Video

2003-2004 2004-2005


UAV Research

• Mechanical Engineering supports the Center for Imaging Science (CIS) in the design and construction of airborne platforms• Design goal:

• Carry a 3 lb. payload autonomously for fire detection• 6” x 6” x 33” payload bay• Two-year project

• 2004 – 2005: Successful flights of a hand launched, all electric UAV

– Flight of 20 minutes duration– Successful belly landing– A capable, remote launching and landing surveillance vehicle


2005-2006 MAV Platform Energy Source:- Batteries

Advanced Structures:- Composite Fuselage & Wings- Advanced Materials- Manufacturing Techniques

Morph-able control surfaces:Piezo-electricSmart Material

Propulsion: - Ducted Fan/Motor

Electronics:

- Video

- GPS

- Stability Augmentation ??

Endurance: 16 mins

Range: 850 m

Competitive Presence at International MAV Competition

Graduate Research Projects:• Leading Edge Control Surfaces• Control with Smart Materials


• Extend Range - Use of PV technology• Quiet UAV• 30 lb. payload capacity• Autonomous surveillance• More plans are pending…..

Future UAV work


What RIT needs to step forward?

• Budget Assistance• Materials

• Composite Tools and Material• Electronics: Video, GPS, Controls, etc.• Misc.: Balsa, Composite Tape, Foam, Mold Materials, etc.

• Lab Assistance• Improved lab capability• Instrumentation• AMATL Lab

• Design Input• Boeing’s UAV outlooks• Assist Boeing with R&D

Documents

Rochester Institute of Technology Kate Gleason College of Engineering MAV and UAV Research at Rochester Institute of Technology Jason Grow – BS/MS Graduate