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- Title
An overview of experiments on the dynamic sensitivity of MAVs to turbulence.
- Authors
Watkins, S.; Thompson, M.; Shortis, M.; Segal, R.; Abduirahim, M.; Sheridan, J.
- Abstract
Aspects of the turbulent wind environment Micro Air Vehicles (MA's) experience when flying outdoors were replicated in a large wind tunnel. An overview of the facility, instrumentation and initial flight tests is given. Piloting inputs and aircraft accelerations were recorded on fixed and rotary wing MA's and for some tests, measurements of the approach flow (u,v,w sampled at 1,250Hz at four laterally disposed upstream locations) were made. The piloting aim was to hold straight and level flight in the 12m wide x 4m high x '-50m long test section, while flying in a range of turbulent conditions. The Cooper-Harper rating system showed that a rotary craft was less sensitive to the effects of turbulence compared to the fixed wing craft and that while the fixed wing aircraft was relatively easy to fly in smooth air, it became extremely difficult to fly under high turbulence conditions. The rotary craft, while more difficult to fly per.se., did not become significantly harder to fly in relatively high turbulence levels. However the rotary craft had a higher mass and MOl than the fixed wing craft and further work is planned to understand the effects of these differences.
- Subjects
TURBULENCE; MICRO air vehicles; SPACE vehicle piloting; WIND tunnels; ATMOSPHERIC turbulence; AIRCRAFT accidents
- Publication
Aeronautical Journal, 2010, Vol 114, Issue 1158, p485
- ISSN
0001-9240
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1017/S0001924000003973