Micro or mini aerial vehicles are characterized by being simple and inexpensive to build, and due to their small size very important to optimize. They are also likely to be built in relatively small series and be tailored for the sensors and equipment available at the time of deployment. Therefore "design and build on demand" is very attractive, where a modular concept with a more or less automated design process is desirable. In this paper design automation of a Micro or Mini Aerial Vehicle (MAV) is demonstrated using a distributed design optimization framework that involves selections of components from a database of propulsion system equipment and geometrical shape optimization. The framework links together a CAD system, responsible for the aircraft shape generation, with a panel code for aerodynamic evaluations.

A methodology for an automated design and fabrication of micro-air vehicles (MAVs) is presented. A design optimization framework has been developed that interfaces several software systems to generate MAVs to optimally fulfil specific mission requirements. By means of amulti-objective genetic algorithm, families of MAVs are tailored with respect to objectives such as weight and endurance. The framework takes into consideration the airframe and aerodynamic design as well as the selection and positioning of internal components. The selection of propulsion system components is made from a database of off-the-shelf components. In combination with a three-dimensional printer, physical prototypes can be quickly manufactured. A validation of the framework results from flight tests of a real MAV is also presented.

At Linköping University work has been carried out towards having an automated designand manufacturing process of Micro Air Vehicles (MAV). A dedicated design optimizationframework has been developed. Initial experience has shown that choosing the rightpropulsion system has a major relevance on the overall performance of the aircraft. Thusthe correctness and fidelity of the models used to describe each component of the propulsionsystem are matters of great importance. With this knowledge an effort has been made tovalidate the propulsion system’s models. Using a specifically designed test rig a number ofdifferent motors and motor controllers have been tested. The motor model has shown goodcorrelation with test data, although manufacturer’s specifications have proven less reliable.Motor controller characteristics has shown to be complex and difficult to model.

Micro Air Vehicles (MAV) are generally operated at low altitudes and within the earth boundary layer. This is a very dynamic environment with varying wind intensity and turbulence levels far greater than those experienced by traditional manned aircraft cruising at higher altitudes. Yet aerodynamic research on MAVs is often based on the assumption of steady aerodynamics. Little effort has been made to experimentally determine the validity of this assumption. In this paper, the effect of turbulence on the performance of a MAV is studied using flight testing in different wind conditions. Flight testing technique, data logging equipment and data reduction are explained. Additionally, a low cost technique for propeller performance measurement is presented. Results show that the flow around a MAV flying in windy conditions qualifies as highly unsteady, although the impact on its performance is surprisingly small for the kind of turbulence levels at which MAVs can be expected to operate. Accelerometer data from the flights reveals that if steady aerodynamic theory is assumed, increasing turbulence should have resulted in a measurable drag increase, thus indicating that the tested MAV to some extent passively manages to benefit from the turbulence.

A dynamically scaled model of a Business-Jet has been build and is undergoing testing at Linköping University. The goal of the project was to understand the difficutlties of dynamic scaling and how to extract useful data from subscale flight testing. This paper presents the experience made during the projects up to the time of writing, and includes details from manufacturing, ground testing equipment such as car top testing, in flight data acquisition system design and preparation for the fligt testing.

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to present the latest subscale demonstrator aircraft developed at Linkoping University. It has been built as part of a study initiated by the Swedish Material Board (FMV) on a Generic Future Fighter aircraft. The paper will cover different aspects of the performed work: from paper study realised by SAAB to the first flight of the scaled demonstrator. The intention of the paper is to describe what has been realised and explain how the work is may be used to fit within aircraft conceptual design. Design/methodology/approach - The approach has been to address the challenges proposed by the customer of the demonstrator, how to design, manufacture and operate a scaled demonstrator of an aircraft study in conceptual design within five months. Similar research projects have been reviewed in order to perform the current work. Findings - The results obtained so far have led to new questions. In particular, the project indicated that more research is needed within the area of subscale flight testing for usage in aircraft conceptual design, since a scaled demonstrator is likely to answer some questions but will probably open up new ones. Research limitations/implications - The current research is just in its infancy and does not bring any final conclusion but does, however, offer several guidelines for future works. Since the aircraft study was an early phase concept study, not much data are available for validation or comparison. Therefore, the paper is not presenting new methods or general conclusions. Practical implications - Results from a conceptual aircraft study and a realisation of a scaled prototype are presented, which show that scaled flight testing may be used with some restriction in conceptual design. Originality/value - The value of this paper is to show that universities can be involved in prototype development and can work in close collaboration with industries to address issues and solutions within aircraft conceptual design.