Adaptive structures technology has been identified as a key driver for the successful development of high altitude, long endurance reconnaissance vehicles. To investigate this assertion, a study is conducted using a simplified model of such a vehicle. Performance requirements such as roll control at landing and minimum drag in loiter are addressed in order to evaluate the relative improvement of an adaptive vehicle system over traditional designs. Using a simplified aeroelastic model, an attempt is made to provide the required rolling moment on landing using twist on the outboard wing section only. Additionally, using combinations of twist and camber, it is shown that the lift-to-drag ratio can be improved in cruise and loiter. The result is reduced gross weight for fixed endurance or increased endurance for fixed gross weight.
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