Collaborative Research: A Solar-Powered Aerial Transformer for Enhanced Mobility and Endurance

合作研究：增强机动性和耐用性的太阳能空中变压器

• 批准号: 2334995
• 负责人: Ran Dai
• 金额: $ 32.42万
• 依托单位: Purdue University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2023-09-01 至 2026-08-31
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2334995&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Solar; Powered; Aerial

Under this Foundational Research in Robotics (FRR) project, a team of researchers from Tuskegee University and Purdue University will investigate origami structures to create extendable wings for unpiloted aerial vehicles (UAVs), with four gimballed propellors capable of operating vertically in rotorcraft mode or horizontally in fixed-wing mode. Wing extension and retraction is always performed in rotorcraft mode, respectively just before or just after gimballing of the propellors. The shape-morphing capability will allow solar cells mounted on the wing surfaces to prolong fixed-wing operations, while enhancing agility and reducing vulnerability to wind gusts in rotorcraft flight. The project will also create associated algorithms for flight control and mission planning, to stabilize the rotorcraft mode during wing extension and retraction, to stabilize the aircraft during propellor gimballing, and to set rotorcraft and fixed-wing flight profiles and transition points based on mission requirements, characteristics, and constraints. Many UAV missions will benefit from the extended operational time, multifunctionality, and increased mobility conferred by the shape morphing wing and solar cells. These include surveillance and reconnaissance, search and rescue, and precision agriculture. Experiments will be conducted to demonstrate and optimize the performance of the new vehicle under a variety of realistic objectives and conditions. Additionally, joint educational activities will create communication and collaboration channels for faculty and students from both universities, laying the foundation for a continued and expanded partnership between the Tuskegee University Aerospace Science Engineering Department and the Purdue University Aeronautics and Astronautics Department.The technical challenge addressed by this research is that extending mission times requires a high surface area for mounting photovoltaic cells, however high surface areas correspond to high aerodynamic disturbance forces that may overwhelm the capabilities of the aircraft in rotorcraft mode. The solution explored in the research is to use morphing wings based on Miura folding patterns that extend for fixed wing operation and retract for rotorcraft operation. Features of the Miura fold patterns may be exploited to implement control surfaces equivalent to ailerons, flaps, and slats. The research approach encompasses design of a platform for integrating solar panels with hybrid UAVs, development of guidance and actuation strategies for a shape-morphing wing, implementation of learning-enabled control laws for efficient rotor conversion, and the establishment of a laddered procedure for system performance evaluation. Optimization algorithms are employed to improve computational efficiency and scalability for complex system design. The learning-enabled control framework enables real-time optimal control with reduced data training requirements. Through these technical efforts, the project seeks to have a significant impact on safety, reduced manpower, energy savings, and insights for future unmanned aerial systems.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

在这项机器人技术（FRR）项目的基础研究下，塔斯基吉大学和普渡大学的一组研究人员将研究折纸结构，以创建可扩展的翅膀，为未移动的航空车辆（UAVS）创建可扩展的机翼，四个能够在固定环模式下在rotorcraft模式下垂直操作或水平的旋转螺旋桨。机翼扩展和缩回始终在旋转模式下分别进行，在螺旋桨旋转之前或之后。形状变形的能力将使安装在机翼表面上的太阳能电池可以延长固定翼操作，同时增强敏捷性并减少转子飞行中风阵风的脆弱性。该项目还将创建相关的算法，以进行飞行控制和任务计划，以稳定机翼延伸和撤回期间的转子工艺模式，以在螺旋桨旋转期间稳定飞机，并根据任务要求，特性和约束设置旋翼船和固定翼飞行配置文件和过渡点。许多无人机任务将受益于延长的操作时间，多功能性以及形状变形翼和太阳能电池所赋予的迁移率。这些包括监视和侦察，搜救和救援以及精密农业。将进行实验，以证明和优化新车辆在各种现实的目标和条件下的性能。此外，联合教育活动将为来自两所大学的教职员工和学生创建沟通和协作渠道，为塔斯凯吉大学航空航天科学工程系与普渡大学航空航天和星际学院之间的持续和扩展伙伴关系奠定基础。这项研究的技术挑战是，这项研究的技术挑战需要高高的表面积，以对较高的表面积进行跨越型的表面积，该领域的高度表面如此，越来越高的型号均具有高度的速度，该领域是越来越多的型号，即越来越多的型号的光电级别，该领域是越来越多的型号，即越来越多的型号的光电级别，即越来越多的型号。在旋翼模式下，飞机的功能压倒了。研究中探索的解决方案是使用基于Miura折叠模式的变形机翼，该模式扩展了固定机翼操作和缩回转子旋翼运行的弯道。可以利用Miura折叠图案的特征来实现与副翼，襟翼和板条相等的控制表面。该研究方法包括一个平台的设计，该平台将太阳能电池板与混合动力无人机集成，开发指导和驱动策略，以实现形状变形机翼，实施启用学习的控制法以进行有效的转子转换，并建立了阶梯性的系统性能评估程序。使用优化算法来提高复杂系统设计的计算效率和可扩展性。支持学习的控制框架可实现实时最佳控制，并减少数据培训要求。通过这些技术努力，该项目试图对安全性，人力减少，节能减少以及对未来无人空中系统的见解产生重大影响。该奖项反映了NSF的法定任务，并认为值得通过基金会的知识分子优点和更广泛的影响来通过评估来获得支持。