@article{GoettenHavermannBraunetal.2020, author = {G{\"o}tten, Falk and Havermann, Marc and Braun, Carsten and Marino, Matthew and Bil, Cees}, title = {Wind-tunnel and CFD investigations of UAV landing gears and turrets - Improvements in empirical drag estimation}, series = {Aerospace Science and Technology}, volume = {107}, journal = {Aerospace Science and Technology}, number = {Art. 106306}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {1270-9638}, doi = {10.1016/j.ast.2020.106306}, year = {2020}, abstract = {This paper analyzes the drag characteristics of several landing gear and turret configurations that are representative of unmanned aircraft tricycle landing gears and sensor turrets. A variety of these components were constructed via 3D-printing and analyzed in a wind-tunnel measurement campaign. Both turrets and landing gears were attached to a modular fuselage that supported both isolated components and multiple components at a time. Selected cases were numerically investigated with a Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes approach that showed good accuracy when compared to wind-tunnel data. The drag of main gear struts could be significantly reduced via streamlining their cross-sectional shape and keeping load carrying capabilities similar. The attachment of wheels introduced interference effects that increased strut drag moderately but significantly increased wheel drag compared to isolated cases. Very similar behavior was identified for front landing gears. The drag of an electro-optical and infrared sensor turret was found to be much higher than compared to available data of a clean hemisphere-cylinder combination. This turret drag was merely influenced by geometrical features like sensor surfaces and the rotational mechanism. The new data of this study is used to develop simple drag estimation recommendations for main and front landing gear struts and wheels as well as sensor turrets. These recommendations take geometrical considerations and interference effects into account.}, language = {en} } @article{GoettenHavermannBraunetal.2019, author = {G{\"o}tten, Falk and Havermann, Marc and Braun, Carsten and Gomez, Francisco and Bil, Cees}, title = {RANS Simulation Validation of a Small Sensor Turret for UAVs}, series = {Journal of Aerospace Engineering}, volume = {32}, journal = {Journal of Aerospace Engineering}, number = {5}, publisher = {ASCE}, address = {New York}, issn = {1943-5525}, doi = {10.1061/(ASCE)AS.1943-5525.0001055}, pages = {Article number 04019060}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Recent Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) design procedures rely on full aircraft steady-state Reynolds-Averaged-Navier-Stokes (RANS) analyses in early design stages. Small sensor turrets are included in such simulations, even though their aerodynamic properties show highly unsteady behavior. Very little is known about the effects of this approach on the simulation outcomes of small turrets. Therefore, the flow around a model turret at a Reynolds number of 47,400 is simulated with a steady-state RANS approach and compared to experimental data. Lift, drag, and surface pressure show good agreement with the experiment. The RANS model predicts the separation location too far downstream and shows a larger recirculation region aft of the body. Both characteristic arch and horseshoe vortex structures are visualized and qualitatively match the ones found by the experiment. The Reynolds number dependence of the drag coefficient follows the trend of a sphere within a distinct range. The outcomes indicate that a steady-state RANS model of a small sensor turret is able to give results that are useful for UAV engineering purposes but might not be suited for detailed insight into flow properties.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{HippeFingerGoettenetal.2020, author = {Hippe, Jonas and Finger, Felix and G{\"o}tten, Falk and Braun, Carsten}, title = {Propulsion System Qualification of a 25 kg VTOL-UAV: Hover Performance of Single and Coaxial Rotors and Wind-Tunnel Experiments on Cruise Propellers}, series = {Deutscher Luft- und Raumfahrtkongress - DLRK 2020}, booktitle = {Deutscher Luft- und Raumfahrtkongress - DLRK 2020}, year = {2020}, language = {en} } @article{GoettenFinger2020, author = {G{\"o}tten, Falk and Finger, Felix}, title = {PhoenAIX - Die modulare Transportdrohne}, series = {Ingenieurspiegel}, volume = {2020}, journal = {Ingenieurspiegel}, number = {1}, publisher = {Public Verlag}, address = {Bingen}, isbn = {1868-5919}, pages = {38 -- 40}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Die autonome, unbemannte Luftfahrt ist einer der Schl{\"u}sselsektoren f{\"u}r die Zukunft der Luftfahrt. In diesem rasant wachsenden Bereich nehmen senkrecht startende und senkrecht landende Flugzeuge (Vertical Take-Off and Landing - VTOL) einen besonderen Platz ein. Ein VTOL-Flugzeug (manchmal auch „Transitionsflugger{\"a}t" genannt) verbindet die Eigenschaft des Helikopters, {\"u}berall starten und landen zu k{\"o}nnen, mit den Geschwindigkeits-, Reichweiten und Flugdauervorteilen des Starrfl{\"u}glers. Grunds{\"a}tzlich wird die Senkrechtstart- und -landef{\"a}higkeit sowohl von zivilen als auch von milit{\"a}rischen Betreibern unbemannter Flugger{\"a}te (UAVs) gew{\"u}nscht. Trotzdem bietet der Markt nur eine geringe Anzahl von VTOL-UAVs, da qualitativ hochwertige Entw{\"u}rfe eine ausgesprochene Herausforderung in der Entwicklung darstellen. An der FH Aachen wird deshalb seit {\"u}ber 5 Jahren an der Auslegung und Analyse von solchen unbemannten VTOL Flugzeugen geforscht. Das neuste Projekt ist der Eigenentwurf einer großen, senkrechtstartenden Transportdrohne. Das „PhoenAIX" getaufte Flugger{\"a}t wird von Falk G{\"o}tten und Felix Finger im Rahmen einer EFRE-F{\"o}rderung entwickelt.}, language = {de} } @article{GoettenFingerHavermannetal.2018, author = {G{\"o}tten, Falk and Finger, Felix and Havermann, Marc and Braun, Carsten and Gomez, Francisco and Bill, C.}, title = {On the flight performance impact of landing gear drag reduction methods for unmanned air vehicles}, series = {Deutscher Luft- und Raumfahrtkongress 2018}, journal = {Deutscher Luft- und Raumfahrtkongress 2018}, publisher = {DGLR}, address = {Bonn}, doi = {10.25967/480058}, pages = {11 S.}, year = {2018}, abstract = {The flight performance impact of three different landing gear configurations on a small, fixed-wing UAV is analyzed with a combination of RANS CFD calculations and an incremental flight performance algorithm. A standard fixed landing gear configuration is taken as a baseline, while the influence of retracting the landing gear or applying streamlined fairings is investigated. A retraction leads to a significant parasite drag reduction, while also fairings promise large savings. The increase in lift-to-drag ratio is reduced at high lift coefficients due to the influence of induced drag. All configurations are tested on three different design missions with an incremental flight performance algorithm. A trade-off study is performed using the retracted or faired landing gear's weight increase as a variable. The analysis reveals only small mission performance gains as the aerodynamic improvements are negated by weight penalties. A new workflow for decision-making is presented that allows to estimate if a change in landing gear configuration is beneficial for a small UAV.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{GoettenHavermannBraunetal.2018, author = {G{\"o}tten, Falk and Havermann, Marc and Braun, Carsten and Gomez, Francisco and Bil, Cees}, title = {On the Applicability of Empirical Drag Estimation Methods for Unmanned Air Vehicle Design Read More: https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/10.2514/6.2018-3192}, series = {2018 Aviation Technology, Integration, and Operations Conference, AIAA AVIATION Forum}, booktitle = {2018 Aviation Technology, Integration, and Operations Conference, AIAA AVIATION Forum}, issn = {1533-385X}, doi = {10.2514/6.2018-3192}, pages = {Article 3192}, year = {2018}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{FingerGoettenBraunetal.2019, author = {Finger, Felix and G{\"o}tten, Falk and Braun, Carsten and Bil, C.}, title = {On Aircraft Design Under the Consideration of Hybrid-Electric Propulsion Systems}, series = {APISAT 2018: The Proceedings of the 2018 Asia-Pacific International Symposium on Aerospace Technology (APISAT 2018)}, booktitle = {APISAT 2018: The Proceedings of the 2018 Asia-Pacific International Symposium on Aerospace Technology (APISAT 2018)}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Singapore}, isbn = {978-981-13-3305-7}, doi = {10.1007/978-981-13-3305-7_99}, pages = {1261 -- 1272}, year = {2019}, abstract = {A hybrid-electric propulsion system combines the advantages of fuel-based systems and battery powered systems and offers new design freedom. To take full advantage of this technology, aircraft designers must be aware of its key differences, compared to conventional, carbon-fuel based, propulsion systems. This paper gives an overview of the challenges and potential benefits associated with the design of aircraft that use hybrid-electric propulsion systems. It offers an introduction of the most popular hybrid-electric propulsion architectures and critically assess them against the conventional and fully electric propulsion configurations. The effects on operational aspects and design aspects are covered. Special consideration is given to the application of hybrid-electric propulsion technology to both unmanned and vertical take-off and landing aircraft. The authors conclude that electric propulsion technology has the potential to revolutionize aircraft design. However, new and innovative methods must be researched, to realize the full benefit of the technology.}, language = {en} } @article{FingerGoetten2019, author = {Finger, Felix and G{\"o}tten, Falk}, title = {Neue Ans{\"a}tze f{\"u}r die Entwicklung von unbemannten Flugger{\"a}ten}, series = {Ingenieurspiegel}, volume = {2019}, journal = {Ingenieurspiegel}, number = {1}, isbn = {1868-5919}, pages = {67 -- 68}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Wie sieht das unbemannte Flugzeug von {\"U}bermorgen aus? Dieser Frage stellen sich Forscher an der Fachhochschule Aachen. Die weltweit rasant fortschreitende Entwicklung des Marktes f{\"u}r unbemannte Flugger{\"a}te (UAVs - „Unmanned Aerial Vehicles") bietet großes Potenzial f{\"u}r Wachstum und Wertsch{\"o}pfung. Unbemannte fliegende Systeme k{\"o}nnen - f{\"u}r bestimmte Anwendungsgebiete - wesentlich g{\"u}nstiger, kleiner und effizienter ausgelegt werden als bemannte L{\"o}sungen. Dabei sind sich viele Unternehmen {\"u}ber das m{\"o}gliche Potential dieser Technologie noch gar nicht bewusst.}, language = {de} } @inproceedings{FingerGoettenBraunetal.2019, author = {Finger, Felix and G{\"o}tten, Falk and Braun, Carsten and Bil, Cees}, title = {Mass, Primary Energy, and Cost - The Impact of Optimization Objectives on the Initial Sizing of Hybrid-Electric General Aviation Aircraft}, series = {Deutscher Luft- und Raumfahrtkongress 2019, DLRK 2019. Darmstadt, Germany}, booktitle = {Deutscher Luft- und Raumfahrtkongress 2019, DLRK 2019. Darmstadt, Germany}, doi = {10.25967/490012}, pages = {1 -- 17}, year = {2019}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{FingerGoettenBraun2018, author = {Finger, Felix and G{\"o}tten, Falk and Braun, Carsten}, title = {Initial Sizing for a Family of Hybrid-Electric VTOL General Aviation Aircraft}, series = {67. Deutscher Luft- und Raumfahrtkongress 2018}, booktitle = {67. Deutscher Luft- und Raumfahrtkongress 2018}, pages = {14 S.}, year = {2018}, language = {en} }