Characteristics of Maximum Gliding Endurance Path for High-Altitude Solar UAVs
Gliding during night without electric power is an efficient method to enhance endurance performance of solar aircrafts. The properties of maximum gliding endurance path are studied in this paper. The problem is formulated as an optimization problem about maximum endurance can be sustained by certain potential energy storage with dynamic equations and aerodynamic parameter constrains. The optimal gliding path is generated based on gauss pseudo-spectral method. In order to analyse relationship between altitude, velocity of solar UAVs and its endurance performance, the lift coefficient in interval of [0.4, 1.2] and flight envelopes between 0~30km are investigated. Results show that broad range of lift coefficient can improve solar aircrafts- long endurance performance, and it is possible for a solar aircraft to achieve the aim of long endurance during whole night just by potential energy storage.
[1] Guo, Z., Chen, X. K., and Hou, Z. X., "Development of a Solar Electric
Powered UAV for Long Endurance Flight," presented at the 11th AIAA
Aviation Technology, Integration, and Operations Conference, Virginia
Beach, 2011.
[2] Shiau, J. K., Ma, D. M., and Chiu, C. W., "Optimal Sizing and Cruise
Speed Determination for a Solar-Powered Airplane," Journal of Aircraft,
Vol. 47, No. 2, 2010, pp. 622~629,
[3] Rapinett, A., "Zephyr: A High Altitude Long Endurance Unmanned Air
Vehicle," Doctor, Department of Physics, University of Surrey, 2009.
[4] Noll, T. E., Ishmeal, S. D., and Henwood, B., "Technical Findings,
Lessions Learned, and Recommendations Resulting from the Helios
Prototype Vehicle Mishap," UAV Design Process/Design Crieria for
Structures, 2007, pp. 3.4-1~3.4-18,
[5] (2011). Zephyr high altitude long endurance unmanned aerial vehicle.
Available: www.QinetiQ.com
[6] Noth, A., Siegwart, R., and Engel, W., "Design of Solar Powered
Airplanes for Continuous Flight," Aircraft and Spacecraft
Systems:Design, Modeling and Control, 2007,
[7] Yu, D. R. and LV, X. W., "Configurations analysis for
high-altitude/long-endurance airship," Aircraft Engineering and
Aerospace Technology, Vol. 82, No. 1, 2010, pp. 48~59,
[8] Noth, A., Engel, M. W., and Siegwart, R., "Flying Solo and Solar to
Mars-Global Design of a solar Autonomous Airplane," IEEE Robotics &
Automation Magazine, Vol. 1070-9932, 2006, pp. 44~52,
[9] Chin, C. K., "Extending the endurance, missions and capabilities of most
UAVs using advanced flexible/ridged solar cells and new high power
density batteries technology," Doctor, NAVAL POSTGRADUATE
SCHOOL, Monterey, California, 2011.
[10] Sachs, G., Lenz, J., and Holzapfel, F., "Unlimited Endurance
Performance of Solar UAVs with Minimal or Zero Electric Energy
Storage," presented at the AIAA Guidance, Navigation and Control
Conference, Chicago Illinois, 2009.
[11] Zhao, Y. J., "Optimal patterns of glider dynamic soaring," OPTIMAL
CONTROL APPLICATIONS AND METHODS, Vol. 25, 2004, pp.
67~89,
[12] Shiau, J. K., et al., "Design of a Solar Power Management System for an
Experimental UAV," IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON AEROSPACE AND
ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS, Vol. 45, No. 4, 2009, pp. 1350~1360,
[13] Altman, A., "A Parametric Study on Design Variables Effecting HALE
UAV Aircraft Design for a Conventional Configuration," presented at the
AIAA's 1st Technical Conference and Workshop on UAV, Portsmouth,
Virginia, 2002.
[14] Goraij, Z., "Dynamics of a high altitude long endurance UAV,"
[15] Sun, Y. and Zhang, M. R., "Optimal Reentry Range Trajectory of
Hypersonic Vehicle by Gauss Pseudospectral Method," in The 2nd
International Conference on Intelligent Control and Information
Processing, Vol, 2011.
[16] Guo, T. D., Jiang, F. H., and Li, J. F., "Homotopic approach and
pseudospectral method applied jointly to low thrust trajectory
optimization," Acta Astronautica, Vol. 71, 2012, pp. 38~50,
[17] Tian, B. L. and Zong, Q., "Optimal guidance for reentry vehicles based on
indirect Legendre pseudospectral method," Acta Astronautica, Vol. 68,
2011, pp. 1176~1184,
[18] Rao, A. V., Benson, D., and Huntington, G. T., A MATLAB software for
solving Multiple-Phase Optimal Control Problem Using Pseudospectral
Methods: University of Florida Gainesville, 2010.
[19] Simons, M., Model Aircraft Aerodynamic: London:Special interest
model books.Ltd., 1999.
[1] Guo, Z., Chen, X. K., and Hou, Z. X., "Development of a Solar Electric
Powered UAV for Long Endurance Flight," presented at the 11th AIAA
Aviation Technology, Integration, and Operations Conference, Virginia
Beach, 2011.
[2] Shiau, J. K., Ma, D. M., and Chiu, C. W., "Optimal Sizing and Cruise
Speed Determination for a Solar-Powered Airplane," Journal of Aircraft,
Vol. 47, No. 2, 2010, pp. 622~629,
[3] Rapinett, A., "Zephyr: A High Altitude Long Endurance Unmanned Air
Vehicle," Doctor, Department of Physics, University of Surrey, 2009.
[4] Noll, T. E., Ishmeal, S. D., and Henwood, B., "Technical Findings,
Lessions Learned, and Recommendations Resulting from the Helios
Prototype Vehicle Mishap," UAV Design Process/Design Crieria for
Structures, 2007, pp. 3.4-1~3.4-18,
[5] (2011). Zephyr high altitude long endurance unmanned aerial vehicle.
Available: www.QinetiQ.com
[6] Noth, A., Siegwart, R., and Engel, W., "Design of Solar Powered
Airplanes for Continuous Flight," Aircraft and Spacecraft
Systems:Design, Modeling and Control, 2007,
[7] Yu, D. R. and LV, X. W., "Configurations analysis for
high-altitude/long-endurance airship," Aircraft Engineering and
Aerospace Technology, Vol. 82, No. 1, 2010, pp. 48~59,
[8] Noth, A., Engel, M. W., and Siegwart, R., "Flying Solo and Solar to
Mars-Global Design of a solar Autonomous Airplane," IEEE Robotics &
Automation Magazine, Vol. 1070-9932, 2006, pp. 44~52,
[9] Chin, C. K., "Extending the endurance, missions and capabilities of most
UAVs using advanced flexible/ridged solar cells and new high power
density batteries technology," Doctor, NAVAL POSTGRADUATE
SCHOOL, Monterey, California, 2011.
[10] Sachs, G., Lenz, J., and Holzapfel, F., "Unlimited Endurance
Performance of Solar UAVs with Minimal or Zero Electric Energy
Storage," presented at the AIAA Guidance, Navigation and Control
Conference, Chicago Illinois, 2009.
[11] Zhao, Y. J., "Optimal patterns of glider dynamic soaring," OPTIMAL
CONTROL APPLICATIONS AND METHODS, Vol. 25, 2004, pp.
67~89,
[12] Shiau, J. K., et al., "Design of a Solar Power Management System for an
Experimental UAV," IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON AEROSPACE AND
ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS, Vol. 45, No. 4, 2009, pp. 1350~1360,
[13] Altman, A., "A Parametric Study on Design Variables Effecting HALE
UAV Aircraft Design for a Conventional Configuration," presented at the
AIAA's 1st Technical Conference and Workshop on UAV, Portsmouth,
Virginia, 2002.
[14] Goraij, Z., "Dynamics of a high altitude long endurance UAV,"
[15] Sun, Y. and Zhang, M. R., "Optimal Reentry Range Trajectory of
Hypersonic Vehicle by Gauss Pseudospectral Method," in The 2nd
International Conference on Intelligent Control and Information
Processing, Vol, 2011.
[16] Guo, T. D., Jiang, F. H., and Li, J. F., "Homotopic approach and
pseudospectral method applied jointly to low thrust trajectory
optimization," Acta Astronautica, Vol. 71, 2012, pp. 38~50,
[17] Tian, B. L. and Zong, Q., "Optimal guidance for reentry vehicles based on
indirect Legendre pseudospectral method," Acta Astronautica, Vol. 68,
2011, pp. 1176~1184,
[18] Rao, A. V., Benson, D., and Huntington, G. T., A MATLAB software for
solving Multiple-Phase Optimal Control Problem Using Pseudospectral
Methods: University of Florida Gainesville, 2010.
[19] Simons, M., Model Aircraft Aerodynamic: London:Special interest
model books.Ltd., 1999.
@article{"International Journal of Mechanical, Industrial and Aerospace Sciences:60852", author = "Gao Xian-Zhong and Hou Zhong-xi and Guo Zheng and Liu Jian-xia", title = "Characteristics of Maximum Gliding Endurance Path for High-Altitude Solar UAVs", abstract = "Gliding during night without electric power is an efficient method to enhance endurance performance of solar aircrafts. The properties of maximum gliding endurance path are studied in this paper. The problem is formulated as an optimization problem about maximum endurance can be sustained by certain potential energy storage with dynamic equations and aerodynamic parameter constrains. The optimal gliding path is generated based on gauss pseudo-spectral method. In order to analyse relationship between altitude, velocity of solar UAVs and its endurance performance, the lift coefficient in interval of [0.4, 1.2] and flight envelopes between 0~30km are investigated. Results show that broad range of lift coefficient can improve solar aircrafts- long endurance performance, and it is possible for a solar aircraft to achieve the aim of long endurance during whole night just by potential energy storage.
", keywords = "Solar UAVs, Gliding Endurance, gauss
pseudo-spectral method, optimization problem", volume = "6", number = "9", pages = "1979-8", }
