@article{StiemerThomaBraun2023,
  author    = {Stiemer, Luc Nicolas and Thoma, Andreas and Braun, Carsten},
  title     = {MBT3D: Deep learning based multi-object tracker for bumblebee 3D flight path estimation},
  series = {PLoS ONE},
  volume    = {18},
  journal   = {PLoS ONE},
  number    = {9},
  publisher = {PLOS},
  address   = {San Fancisco},
  issn      = {1932-6203},
  doi       = {10.1371/journal.pone.0291415},
  pages     = {e0291415},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {This work presents the Multi-Bees-Tracker (MBT3D) algorithm, a Python framework implementing a deep association tracker for Tracking-By-Detection, to address the challenging task of tracking flight paths of bumblebees in a social group. While tracking algorithms for bumblebees exist, they often come with intensive restrictions, such as the need for sufficient lighting, high contrast between the animal and background, absence of occlusion, significant user input, etc. Tracking flight paths of bumblebees in a social group is challenging. They suddenly adjust movements and change their appearance during different wing beat states while exhibiting significant similarities in their individual appearance. The MBT3D tracker, developed in this research, is an adaptation of an existing ant tracking algorithm for bumblebee tracking. It incorporates an offline trained appearance descriptor along with a Kalman Filter for appearance and motion matching. Different detector architectures for upstream detections (You Only Look Once (YOLOv5), Faster Region Proposal Convolutional Neural Network (Faster R-CNN), and RetinaNet) are investigated in a comparative study to optimize performance. The detection models were trained on a dataset containing 11359 labeled bumblebee images. YOLOv5 reaches an Average Precision of AP = 53, 8\%, Faster R-CNN achieves AP = 45, 3\% and RetinaNet AP = 38, 4\% on the bumblebee validation dataset, which consists of 1323 labeled bumblebee images. The tracker's appearance model is trained on 144 samples. The tracker (with Faster R-CNN detections) reaches a Multiple Object Tracking Accuracy MOTA = 93, 5\% and a Multiple Object Tracking Precision MOTP = 75, 6\% on a validation dataset containing 2000 images, competing with state-of-the-art computer vision methods. The framework allows reliable tracking of different bumblebees in the same video stream with rarely occurring identity switches (IDS). MBT3D has much lower IDS than other commonly used algorithms, with one of the lowest false positive rates, competing with state-of-the-art animal tracking algorithms. The developed framework reconstructs the 3-dimensional (3D) flight paths of the bumblebees by triangulation. It also handles and compares two alternative stereo camera pairs if desired.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{BoehnischBraunMuscarelloetal.2024,
  author    = {B{\"o}hnisch, Nils and Braun, Carsten and Muscarello, Vincenzo and Marzocca, Pier},
  title     = {About the wing and whirl flutter of a slender wing-propeller system},
  series = {Journal of Aircraft},
  journal   = {Journal of Aircraft},
  publisher = {American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics},
  issn      = {1533-3868},
  doi       = {10.2514/1.C037542},
  pages     = {1 -- 14},
  year      = {2024},
  abstract  = {Next-generation aircraft designs often incorporate multiple large propellers attached along the wingspan (distributed electric propulsion), leading to highly flexible dynamic systems that can exhibit aeroelastic instabilities. This paper introduces a validated methodology to investigate the aeroelastic instabilities of wing-propeller systems and to understand the dynamic mechanism leading to wing and whirl flutter and transition from one to the other. Factors such as nacelle positions along the wing span and chord and its propulsion system mounting stiffness are considered. Additionally, preliminary design guidelines are proposed for flutter-free wing-propeller systems applicable to novel aircraft designs. The study demonstrates how the critical speed of the wing-propeller systems is influenced by the mounting stiffness and propeller position. Weak mounting stiffnesses result in whirl flutter, while hard mounting stiffnesses lead to wing flutter. For the latter, the position of the propeller along the wing span may change the wing mode shapes and thus the flutter mechanism. Propeller positions closer to the wing tip enhance stability, but pusher configurations are more critical due to the mass distribution behind the elastic axis.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{KochBoehnischVerdoncketal.2024,
  author    = {Koch, Christopher and B{\"o}hnisch, Nils and Verdonck, Hendrik and Hach, Oliver and Braun, Carsten},
  title     = {Comparison of unsteady low- and mid-fidelity propeller aerodynamic methods for whirl flutter applications},
  series = {Applied Sciences},
  volume    = {14},
  journal   = {Applied Sciences},
  number    = {2},
  publisher = {MDPI},
  address   = {Basel},
  issn      = {2076-3417},
  doi       = {10.3390/app14020850},
  pages     = {1 -- 28},
  year      = {2024},
  abstract  = {Aircraft configurations with propellers have been drawing more attention in recent times, partly due to new propulsion concepts based on hydrogen fuel cells and electric motors. These configurations are prone to whirl flutter, which is an aeroelastic instability affecting airframes with elastically supported propellers. It commonly needs to be mitigated already during the design phase of such configurations, requiring, among other things, unsteady aerodynamic transfer functions for the propeller. However, no comprehensive assessment of unsteady propeller aerodynamics for aeroelastic analysis is available in the literature. This paper provides a detailed comparison of nine different low- to mid-fidelity aerodynamic methods, demonstrating their impact on linear, unsteady aerodynamics, as well as whirl flutter stability prediction. Quasi-steady and unsteady methods for blade lift with or without coupling to blade element momentum theory are evaluated and compared to mid-fidelity potential flow solvers (UPM and DUST) and classical, derivative-based methods. Time-domain identification of frequency-domain transfer functions for the unsteady propeller hub loads is used to compare the different methods. Predictions of the minimum required pylon stiffness for stability show good agreement among the mid-fidelity methods. The differences in the stability predictions for the low-fidelity methods are higher. Most methods studied yield a more unstable system than classical, derivative-based whirl flutter analysis, indicating that the use of more sophisticated aerodynamic modeling techniques might be required for accurate whirl flutter prediction.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{ThomessenThomaBraun2023,
  author    = {Thomessen, Karolin and Thoma, Andreas and Braun, Carsten},
  title     = {Bio-inspired altitude changing extension to the 3DVFH* local obstacle avoidance algorithm},
  series = {CEAS Aeronautical Journal},
  journal   = {CEAS Aeronautical Journal},
  publisher = {Springer},
  address   = {Wien},
  issn      = {1869-5590 (Online)},
  doi       = {10.1007/s13272-023-00691-w},
  pages     = {11 Seiten},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {Obstacle avoidance is critical for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) operating autonomously. Obstacle avoidance algorithms either rely on global environment data or local sensor data. Local path planners react to unforeseen objects and plan purely on local sensor information. Similarly, animals need to find feasible paths based on local information about their surroundings. Therefore, their behavior is a valuable source of inspiration for path planning. Bumblebees tend to fly vertically over far-away obstacles and horizontally around close ones, implying two zones for different flight strategies depending on the distance to obstacles. This work enhances the local path planner 3DVFH* with this bio-inspired strategy. The algorithm alters the goal-driven function of the 3DVFH* to climb-preferring if obstacles are far away. Prior experiments with bumblebees led to two definitions of flight zone limits depending on the distance to obstacles, leading to two algorithm variants. Both variants reduce the probability of not reaching the goal of a 3DVFH* implementation in Matlab/Simulink. The best variant, 3DVFH*b-b, reduces this probability from 70.7 to 18.6\% in city-like worlds using a strong vertical evasion strategy. Energy consumption is higher, and flight paths are longer compared to the algorithm version with pronounced horizontal evasion tendency. A parameter study analyzes the effect of different weighting factors in the cost function. The best parameter combination shows a failure probability of 6.9\% in city-like worlds and reduces energy consumption by 28\%. Our findings demonstrate the potential of bio-inspired approaches for improving the performance of local path planning algorithms for UAV.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{ThomaThomessenGardietal.2023,
  author    = {Thoma, Andreas and Thomessen, Karolin and Gardi, Alessandro and Fisher, A. and Braun, Carsten},
  title     = {Prioritising paths: An improved cost function for local path planning for UAV in medical applications},
  series = {The Aeronautical Journal},
  journal   = {The Aeronautical Journal},
  number    = {First View},
  publisher = {Cambridge University Press},
  address   = {Cambridge},
  issn      = {0001-9240 (Print)},
  doi       = {10.1017/aer.2023.68},
  pages     = {1 -- 18},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {Even the shortest flight through unknown, cluttered environments requires reliable local path planning algorithms to avoid unforeseen obstacles. The algorithm must evaluate alternative flight paths and identify the best path if an obstacle blocks its way. Commonly, weighted sums are used here. This work shows that weighted Chebyshev distances and factorial achievement scalarising functions are suitable alternatives to weighted sums if combined with the 3DVFH* local path planning algorithm. Both methods considerably reduce the failure probability of simulated flights in various environments. The standard 3DVFH* uses a weighted sum and has a failure probability of 50\% in the test environments. A factorial achievement scalarising function, which minimises the worst combination of two out of four objective functions, reaches a failure probability of 26\%; A weighted Chebyshev distance, which optimises the worst objective, has a failure probability of 30\%. These results show promise for further enhancements and to support broader applicability.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{MoehrenBergmannJanseretal.2023,
  author    = {M{\"o}hren, Felix and Bergmann, Ole and Janser, Frank and Braun, Carsten},
  title     = {On the influence of elasticity on propeller performance: a parametric study},
  series = {CEAS Aeronautical Journal},
  volume    = {14},
  journal   = {CEAS Aeronautical Journal},
  publisher = {Springer Nature},
  address   = {Berlin},
  issn      = {1869-5590 (Online)},
  doi       = {10.1007/s13272-023-00649-y},
  pages     = {311 -- 323},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {The aerodynamic performance of propellers strongly depends on their geometry and, consequently, on aeroelastic deformations. Knowledge of the extent of the impact is crucial for overall aircraft performance. An integrated simulation environment for steady aeroelastic propeller simulations is presented. The simulation environment is applied to determine the impact of elastic deformations on the aerodynamic propeller performance. The aerodynamic module includes a blade element momentum approach to calculate aerodynamic loads. The structural module is based on finite beam elements, according to Timoshenko theory, including moderate deflections. Several fixed-pitch propellers with thin-walled cross sections made of both isotropic and non-isotropic materials are investigated. The essential parameters are varied: diameter, disc loading, sweep, material, rotational, and flight velocity. The relative change of thrust between rigid and elastic blades quantifies the impact of propeller elasticity. Swept propellers of large diameters or low disc loadings can decrease the thrust significantly. High flight velocities and low material stiffness amplify this tendency. Performance calculations without consideration of propeller elasticity can lead to decreased efficiency. To avoid cost- and time-intense redesigns, propeller elasticity should be considered for swept planforms and low disc loadings.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{LaarmannThomaMischetal.2023,
  author    = {Laarmann, Lukas and Thoma, Andreas and Misch, Philipp and R{\"o}th, Thilo and Braun, Carsten and Watkins, Simon and Fard, Mohammad},
  title     = {Automotive safety approach for future eVTOL vehicles},
  series = {CEAS Aeronautical Journal},
  journal   = {CEAS Aeronautical Journal},
  publisher = {Springer Nature},
  issn      = {1869-5590 (Online)},
  doi       = {10.1007/s13272-023-00655-0},
  pages     = {11 Seiten},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {The eVTOL industry is a rapidly growing mass market expected to start in 2024. eVTOL compete, caused by their predicted missions, with ground-based transportation modes, including mainly passenger cars. Therefore, the automotive and classical aircraft design process is reviewed and compared to highlight advantages for eVTOL development. A special focus is on ergonomic comfort and safety. The need for further investigation of eVTOL's crashworthiness is outlined by, first, specifying the relevance of passive safety via accident statistics and customer perception analysis; second, comparing the current state of regulation and certification; and third, discussing the advantages of integral safety and applying the automotive safety approach for eVTOL development. Integral safety links active and passive safety, while the automotive safety approach means implementing standardized mandatory full-vehicle crash tests for future eVTOL. Subsequently, possible crash impact conditions are analyzed, and three full-vehicle crash load cases are presented.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{UlmerBraunChengetal.2023,
  author    = {Ulmer, Jessica and Braun, Carsten and Cheng, Chi-Tsun and Dowey, Steve and Wollert, J{\"o}rg},
  title     = {A human factors-aware assistance system in manufacturing based on gamification and hardware modularisation},
  series = {International Journal of Production Research},
  journal   = {International Journal of Production Research},
  publisher = {Taylor \& Francis},
  issn      = {0020-7543 (Print)},
  doi       = {10.1080/00207543.2023.2166140},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {Assistance systems have been widely adopted in the manufacturing sector to facilitate various processes and tasks in production environments. However, existing systems are mostly equipped with rigid functional logic and do not provide individual user experiences or adapt to their capabilities. This work integrates human factors in assistance systems by adjusting the hardware and instruction presented to the workers' cognitive and physical demands. A modular system architecture is designed accordingly, which allows a flexible component exchange according to the user and the work task. Gamification, the use of game elements in non-gaming contexts, has been further adopted in this work to provide level-based instructions and personalised feedback. The developed framework is validated by applying it to a manual workstation for industrial assembly routines.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{BergmannMoehrenBraunetal.2023,
  author    = {Bergmann, Ole and M{\"o}hren, Felix and Braun, Carsten and Janser, Frank},
  title     = {On the influence of elasticity on swept propeller noise},
  series = {AIAA SCITECH 2023 Forum},
  journal   = {AIAA SCITECH 2023 Forum},
  publisher = {AIAA},
  doi       = {10.2514/6.2023-0210},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {High aerodynamic efficiency requires propellers with high aspect ratios, while propeller sweep potentially reduces noise. Propeller sweep and high aspect ratios increase elasticity and coupling of structural mechanics and aerodynamics, affecting the propeller performance and noise. Therefore, this paper analyzes the influence of elasticity on forward-swept, backward-swept, and unswept propellers in hover conditions. A reduced-order blade element momentum approach is coupled with a one-dimensional Timoshenko beam theory and Farassat's formulation 1A. The results of the aeroelastic simulation are used as input for the aeroacoustic calculation. The analysis shows that elasticity influences noise radiation because thickness and loading noise respond differently to deformations. In the case of the backward-swept propeller, the location of the maximum sound pressure level shifts forward by 0.5 °, while in the case of the forward-swept propeller, it shifts backward by 0.5 °. Therefore, aeroacoustic optimization requires the consideration of propeller deformation.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{BoehnischBraunMuscarelloetal.2023,
  author    = {B{\"o}hnisch, Nils and Braun, Carsten and Muscarello, Vincenzo and Marzocca, Pier},
  title     = {A sensitivity study on aeroelastic instabilities of slender wings with a large propeller},
  series = {AIAA SCITECH 2023 Forum},
  journal   = {AIAA SCITECH 2023 Forum},
  publisher = {AIAA},
  doi       = {10.2514/6.2023-1893},
  pages     = {1 -- 14},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {Next-generation aircraft designs often incorporate multiple large propellers attached along the wingspan. These highly flexible dynamic systems can exhibit uncommon aeroelastic instabilities, which should be carefully investigated to ensure safe operation. The interaction between the propeller and the wing is of particular importance. It is known that whirl flutter is stabilized by wing motion and wing aerodynamics. This paper investigates the effect of a propeller onto wing flutter as a function of span position and mounting stiffness between the propeller and wing. The analysis of a comparison between a tractor and pusher configuration has shown that the coupled system is more stable than the standalone wing for propeller positions near the wing tip for both configurations. The wing fluttermechanism is mostly affected by the mass of the propeller and the resulting change in eigenfrequencies of the wing. For very weak mounting stiffnesses, whirl flutter occurs, which was shown to be stabilized compared to a standalone propeller due to wing motion. On the other hand, the pusher configuration is, as to be expected, the more critical configuration due to the attached mass behind the elastic axis.},
  language  = {de}
}
@article{GoettenFingerHavermannetal.2021,
  author    = {G{\"o}tten, Falk and Finger, Felix and Havermann, Marc and Braun, Carsten and Marino, M. and Bil, C.},
  title     = {Full configuration drag estimation of short-to-medium range fixed-wing UAVs and its impact on initial sizing optimization},
  series = {CEAS Aeronautical Journal},
  volume    = {12},
  journal   = {CEAS Aeronautical Journal},
  publisher = {Springer},
  address   = {Berlin},
  issn      = {1869-5590 (Online)},
  doi       = {10.1007/s13272-021-00522-w},
  pages     = {589 -- 603},
  year      = {2021},
  abstract  = {The paper presents the derivation of a new equivalent skin friction coefficient for estimating the parasitic drag of short-to-medium range fixed-wing unmanned aircraft. The new coefficient is derived from an aerodynamic analysis of ten different unmanned aircraft used for surveillance, reconnaissance, and search and rescue missions. The aircraft is simulated using a validated unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier Stokes approach. The UAV's parasitic drag is significantly influenced by the presence of miscellaneous components like fixed landing gears or electro-optical sensor turrets. These components are responsible for almost half of an unmanned aircraft's total parasitic drag. The new equivalent skin friction coefficient accounts for these effects and is significantly higher compared to other aircraft categories. It is used to initially size an unmanned aircraft for a typical reconnaissance mission. The improved parasitic drag estimation yields a much heavier unmanned aircraft when compared to the sizing results using available drag data of manned aircraft.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{GoettenHavermannBraunetal.2021,
  author    = {G{\"o}tten, Falk and Havermann, Marc and Braun, Carsten and Marino, Matthew and Bil, Cees},
  title     = {Aerodynamic Investigations of UAV Sensor Turrets - A Combined Wind-tunnel and CFD Approach},
  series = {SciTech 2021, AIAA SciTech Forum, online, WW, Jan 11-15, 2021},
  journal   = {SciTech 2021, AIAA SciTech Forum, online, WW, Jan 11-15, 2021},
  publisher = {AIAA},
  address   = {Reston, Va.},
  doi       = {10.2514/6.2021-1535},
  pages     = {1 -- 12},
  year      = {2021},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{GoettenHavermannBraunetal.2020,
  author    = {G{\"o}tten, Falk and Havermann, Marc and Braun, Carsten and Marino, Matthew and Bil, Cees},
  title     = {Improved Form Factor for Drag Estimation of Fuselages with Various Cross Sections},
  series = {Journal of Aircraft},
  journal   = {Journal of Aircraft},
  publisher = {AIAA},
  address   = {Reston, Va.},
  issn      = {1533-3868},
  doi       = {10.2514/1.C036032},
  pages     = {1 -- 13},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {The paper presents an aerodynamic investigation of 70 different streamlined bodies with fineness ratios ranging from 2 to 10. The bodies are chosen to idealize both unmanned and small manned aircraft fuselages and feature cross-sectional shapes that vary from circular to quadratic. The study focuses on friction and pressure drag in dependency of the individual body's fineness ratio and cross section. The drag forces are normalized with the respective body's wetted area to comply with an empirical drag estimation procedure. Although the friction drag coefficient then stays rather constant for all bodies, their pressure drag coefficients decrease with an increase in fineness ratio. Referring the pressure drag coefficient to the bodies' cross-sectional areas shows a distinct pressure drag minimum at a fineness ratio of about three. The pressure drag of bodies with a quadratic cross section is generally higher than for bodies of revolution. The results are used to derive an improved form factor that can be employed in a classic empirical drag estimation method. The improved formulation takes both the fineness ratio and cross-sectional shape into account. It shows superior accuracy in estimating streamlined body drag when compared with experimental data and other form factor formulations of the literature.},
  language  = {en}
}
@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{FingerBraunBil2020,
  author    = {Finger, Felix and Braun, Carsten and Bil, Cees},
  title     = {Comparative assessment of parallel-hybrid-electric propulsion systems for four different aircraft},
  series = {Journal of Aircraft},
  volume    = {57},
  journal   = {Journal of Aircraft},
  number    = {5},
  publisher = {AIAA},
  address   = {Reston, Va.},
  issn      = {1533-3868},
  doi       = {10.2514/1.C035897},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {Until electric energy storage systems are ready to allow fully electric aircraft, the combination of combustion engine and electric motor as a hybrid-electric propulsion system seems to be a promising intermediate solution. Consequently, the design space for future aircraft is expanded considerably, as serial hybrid-electric, parallel hybrid-electric, fully electric, and conventional propulsion systems must all be considered. While the best propulsion system depends on a multitude of requirements and considerations, trends can be observed for certain types of aircraft and certain types of missions. This Paper provides insight into some factors that drive a new design toward either conventional or hybrid propulsion systems. General aviation aircraft, regional transport aircraft vertical takeoff and landing air taxis, and unmanned aerial vehicles are chosen as case studies. Typical missions for each class are considered, and the aircraft are analyzed regarding their takeoff mass and primary energy consumption. For these case studies, a high-level approach is chosen, using an initial sizing methodology. Only parallel-hybrid-electric powertrains are taken into account. Aeropropulsive interaction effects are neglected. Results indicate that hybrid-electric propulsion systems should be considered if the propulsion system is sized by short-duration power constraints. However, if the propulsion system is sized by a continuous power requirement, hybrid-electric systems offer hardly any benefit.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{GoettenHavermannBraunetal.2020,
  author    = {G{\"o}tten, Falk and Havermann, Marc and Braun, Carsten and Marino, Matthew and Bil, Cees},
  title     = {Airfoil drag at low-to-medium reynolds numbers: A novel estimation method},
  series = {AIAA Journal},
  volume    = {58},
  journal   = {AIAA Journal},
  number    = {7},
  publisher = {AIAA},
  address   = {Reston, Va.},
  issn      = {1533-385X},
  doi       = {10.2514/1.J058983},
  pages     = {2791 -- 2805},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {This paper presents a novel method for airfoil drag estimation at Reynolds numbers between 4×10⁵ and 4×10⁶. The novel method is based on a systematic study of 40 airfoils applying over 600 numerical simulations and considering natural transition. The influence of the airfoil thickness-to-chord ratio, camber, and freestream Reynolds number on both friction and pressure drag is analyzed in detail. Natural transition significantly affects drag characteristics and leads to distinct drag minima for different Reynolds numbers and thickness-to-chord ratios. The results of the systematic study are used to develop empirical correlations that can accurately predict an airfoil drag at low-lift conditions. The new approach estimates a transition location based on airfoil thickness-to-chord ratio, camber, and Reynolds number. It uses the transition location in a mixed laminar-turbulent skin-friction calculation, and corrects the skin-friction coefficient for separation effects. Pressure drag is estimated separately based on correlations of thickness-to-chord ratio, camber, and Reynolds number. The novel method shows excellent accuracy when compared with wind-tunnel measurements of multiple airfoils. It is easily integrable into existing aircraft design environments and is highly beneficial in the conceptual design stage.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{FingerGoettenBraunetal.2020,
  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 = {CEAS Aeronautical Journal},
  volume    = {2020},
  journal   = {CEAS Aeronautical Journal},
  number    = {11},
  publisher = {Springer},
  address   = {Heidelberg},
  issn      = {1869-5590},
  doi       = {10.1007/s13272-020-00449-8},
  pages     = {713 -- 730},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {For short take-off and landing (STOL) aircraft, a parallel hybrid-electric propulsion system potentially offers superior performance compared to a conventional propulsion system, because the short-take-off power requirement is much higher than the cruise power requirement. This power-matching problem can be solved with a balanced hybrid propulsion system. However, there is a trade-off between wing loading, power loading, the level of hybridization, as well as range and take-off distance. An optimization method can vary design variables in such a way that a minimum of a particular objective is attained. In this paper, a comparison between the optimization results for minimum mass, minimum consumed primary energy, and minimum cost is conducted. A new initial sizing algorithm for general aviation aircraft with hybrid-electric propulsion systems is applied. This initial sizing methodology covers point performance, mission performance analysis, the weight estimation process, and cost estimation. The methodology is applied to the design of a STOL general aviation aircraft, intended for on-demand air mobility operations. The aircraft is sized to carry eight passengers over a distance of 500 km, while able to take off and land from short airstrips. Results indicate that parallel hybrid-electric propulsion systems must be considered for future STOL aircraft.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{FingerBraunBil2020,
  author    = {Finger, Felix and Braun, Carsten and Bil, Cees},
  title     = {Impact of Battery Performance on the Initial Sizing of Hybrid-Electric General Aviation Aircraft},
  series = {Journal of Aerospace Engineering},
  volume    = {33},
  journal   = {Journal of Aerospace Engineering},
  number    = {3},
  publisher = {ASCE},
  address   = {Reston, Va.},
  issn      = {1943-5525},
  doi       = {10.1061/(ASCE)AS.1943-5525.0001113},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {Studies suggest that hybrid-electric aircraft have the potential to generate fewer emissions and be inherently quieter when compared to conventional aircraft. By operating combustion engines together with an electric propulsion system, synergistic benefits can be obtained. However, the performance of hybrid-electric aircraft is still constrained by a battery's energy density and discharge rate. In this paper, the influence of battery performance on the gross mass for a four-seat general aviation aircraft with a hybrid-electric propulsion system is analyzed. For this design study, a high-level approach is chosen, using an innovative initial sizing methodology to determine the minimum required aircraft mass for a specific set of requirements and constraints. Only the peak-load shaving operational strategy is analyzed. Both parallel- and serial-hybrid propulsion configurations are considered for two different missions. The specific energy of the battery pack is varied from 200 to 1,000 W⋅h/kg, while the discharge time, and thus the normalized discharge rating (C-rating), is varied between 30 min (2C discharge rate) and 2 min (30C discharge rate). With the peak-load shaving operating strategy, it is desirable for hybrid-electric aircraft to use a light, low capacity battery system to boost performance. For this case, the battery's specific power rating proved to be of much higher importance than for full electric designs, which have high capacity batteries. Discharge ratings of 20C allow a significant take-off mass reduction aircraft. The design point moves to higher wing loadings and higher levels of hybridization if batteries with advanced technology are used.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{FingerBilBraun2019,
  author    = {Finger, Felix and Bil, Cees and Braun, Carsten},
  title     = {Initial Sizing Methodology for Hybrid-Electric General Aviation Aircraft},
  series = {Journal of Aircraft},
  volume    = {57},
  journal   = {Journal of Aircraft},
  number    = {2},
  issn      = {1533-3868},
  doi       = {10.2514/1.C035428},
  pages     = {245 -- 255},
  year      = {2019},
  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}
}