Aerodynamics of Small Vehicles

@article{citeulike:2528528, abstract = {Abstract In this review we describe the aerodynamic problems that must be addressed in order to design a successful small aerial vehicle. The effects of Reynolds number and aspect ratio (AR) on the design and performance of fixed-wing vehicles are described. The boundary-layer behavior on airfoils is especially important in the design of vehicles in this flight regime. The results of a number of experimental boundary-layer studies, including the influence of laminar separation bubbles, are discussed. Several examples of small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in this regime are described. Also, a brief survey of analytical models for oscillating and flapping-wing propulsion is presented. These range from the earliest examples where quasi-steady, attached flow is assumed, to those that account for the unsteady shed vortex wake as well as flow separation and aeroelastic behavior of a flapping wing. Experiments that complemented the analysis and led to the design of a successful ornithopter are also described.}, author = {Mueller, Thomas J. and Delaurier, James D. }, citeulike-article-id = {2528528}, doi = {10.1146/annurev.fluid.35.101101.161102}, journal = {Annual Review of Fluid Mechanics}, keywords = {mav, robotics, uav}, number = {1}, pages = {89--111}, posted-at = {2008-03-13 17:07:06}, priority = {2}, title = {Aerodynamics of Small Vehicles}, url = {http://arjournals.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev.fluid.35.101101.161102}, volume = {35}, year = {2003} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:2528528 L3 - citeulike-article-id:2528528 TI - Aerodynamics of Small Vehicles JF - Annual Review of Fluid Mechanics VL - 35 IS - 1 SP - 89 EP - 111 N2 - Abstract In this review we describe the aerodynamic problems that must be addressed in order to design a successful small aerial vehicle. The effects of Reynolds number and aspect ratio (AR) on the design and performance of fixed-wing vehicles are described. The boundary-layer behavior on airfoils is especially important in the design of vehicles in this flight regime. The results of a number of experimental boundary-layer studies, including the influence of laminar separation bubbles, are discussed. Several examples of small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in this regime are described. Also, a brief survey of analytical models for oscillating and flapping-wing propulsion is presented. These range from the earliest examples where quasi-steady, attached flow is assumed, to those that account for the unsteady shed vortex wake as well as flow separation and aeroelastic behavior of a flapping wing. Experiments that complemented the analysis and led to the design of a successful ornithopter are also described. KW - mav KW - robotics KW - uav AU - Mueller, Thomas AU - Delaurier, James PY - 2003/// UR - http://arjournals.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev.fluid.35.101101.161102 ER -