National Aeronautics and Space Administration Langley Research Center's Design Criteria for Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Development.

摘要

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Langley Research Center (LaRC) has a long, rich tradition of advanced aeronautics research using subscale aircraft. LaRC has developed detailed procedures and guidelines that set forth criteria for the design, analysis, quality assurance and documentation for wind-tunnel model systems to be tested at the LaRC. The criteria are intended to prevent model systems failure and/or facility damage. However, traditional wind tunnel experimental testing can not meet all of the aeronautics research requirements. To that end, LaRC uses free flying subscale models in large wind tunnels and small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to extend traditional aeronautics research testing capability. With the absence of standardized and accepted design criteria for free flying subscale testbeds, LaRC has adapted the wind-tunnel model systems criteria to guide the development of theses free-flying vehicles and is in the process of developing unique criteria specifically for these testbeds. This paper will review LaRC's criteria and procedures for design and development of wind tunnel test articles (models). The paper will outline how this set of criteria, along with other limited but established criteria and best practices from the user community, has been applied to the development of small UAVs, giving specific examples of recent or current activities. In addition, shortcomings of the current guidelines will be discussed and recommendations will be presented.