Aeronus Design Build Fly

The aim of this team is to train future aerospace engineers and researchers, and participation in competitions. Team members have the opportunity to apply the knowledge and theories that we have learnt in the engineering courses to design fixed-wing UAV. We have been participated in the AIAA Design/Build/Fly Competition in 2015 and 2016, and ranked 47 and 32 respectively. The team approaches the challenge in two phases. The first phase involves the design and selection of the UAV aerodynamics configuration, body and wing structures, control surfaces and actuators, power plant etc. Material and fabrication methods should be also considered in the design. Detailed Solidworks models will be generated of the whole UAV configuration as well as individual moving control parts, such as actuators and linkages for flaps, elevators and rudder. Theoretical and simple CFD calculations are required to prove that the UAV is controllable and can achieve all the design targets. A rapid prototype model of the UAV is to be tested in a wind tunnel to generate detailed aerodynamic performance charts. The charts include lift vs AOA (angle of attack), drag vs AOA, lift to drag ratio etc. Aerodynamic forces for varying control surface deflections are to be measured. Furthermore, thrust, rpm and torque for various motor/propeller combinations will be measured to select the best propulsion system for the UAV. The results will be used to improve the original design. In the second phase, the designed prototype is to be fabricated and tested to validate and to demonstrate the aerodynamic performance of the design. We would like to thank the support of the Mechanical Engineering Department of the National University of Singapore, and our sponsors and collaborators, including Hope Technik (2015), and Airbus (2016).