Is this project an undergraduate, graduate, or faculty project?
Undergraduate
Project Type
group
Authors' Class Standing
Nathan Crane, Senior Taylor Fazzini, Graduate Student
Lead Presenter's Name
Nathan Crane
Faculty Mentor Name
Dr. J. Gordon Leishman
Abstract
The objective of the 2017-2018 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Design Build Fly competition is to simulate a passenger aircraft that carries passengers and cargo, while also being able to support Line Replaceable Units. The remotely controlled aircraft will demonstrate its capability to complete three flight missions and one ground mission during a “fly-off” in Wichita, Kansas. The payload consists of five different sized bouncy balls as passengers and an 8oz payload block with linear dimensions adding to 9”. The score is inversely proportional to wingspan and empty weight.
To complete the missions, the team researched and developed an aircraft with a low aspect ratio wing in low Reynolds Number flow. There is little prior research done in this niche, so new design, manufacturing, and testing processes were needed. This year-long project begins with design and manufacturing studies in the fall semester. The spring semester is dedicated to iterating the design and communicating results.
A biplane with two-foot wingspan was developed for the competition. It can complete all missions within specifications. A final design report was written and submitted to the competition. The final fly-off is the last weekend in April in Wichita, KS.
Did this research project receive funding support (Spark, SURF, Research Abroad, Student Internal Grants, Collaborative, Climbing, or Ignite Grants) from the Office of Undergraduate Research?
Yes, Ignite Grant
2017-2018 AIAA DBF Discovery Day Abstract
The objective of the 2017-2018 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Design Build Fly competition is to simulate a passenger aircraft that carries passengers and cargo, while also being able to support Line Replaceable Units. The remotely controlled aircraft will demonstrate its capability to complete three flight missions and one ground mission during a “fly-off” in Wichita, Kansas. The payload consists of five different sized bouncy balls as passengers and an 8oz payload block with linear dimensions adding to 9”. The score is inversely proportional to wingspan and empty weight.
To complete the missions, the team researched and developed an aircraft with a low aspect ratio wing in low Reynolds Number flow. There is little prior research done in this niche, so new design, manufacturing, and testing processes were needed. This year-long project begins with design and manufacturing studies in the fall semester. The spring semester is dedicated to iterating the design and communicating results.
A biplane with two-foot wingspan was developed for the competition. It can complete all missions within specifications. A final design report was written and submitted to the competition. The final fly-off is the last weekend in April in Wichita, KS.