Aerodynamics Optimization of Propeller-Small Con-trol Surface of HALE UAV using Genetic Algorithm

Abstract

Currently, High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) unmanned aerial vehicle has been attracting much attention to researchers. HALE-ITB vehicle have been developed for multiyear program with the purposes of surveillance and communication operating at target altitudes of 60000 feet with endurance more than 12 hours. For starting the program, an initial configuration of the HALE vehicle has been design for a flight at altitude of 20000 feet and 2 hours flight endurance. In order to achieve this mission, the vehicle is designed to have higher aspect ratio of the wing, with lower weight. The determination of location of propellers and small controls on segmented wings become a critical issue due to aerodynamic load and thrust as well as stability of the HALE UAV. The optimum location of the propeller and control position is optimized using Simple Genetic Algorithm. The flow solution around the HALE vehicle is obtained by solving Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes equations.  As a results, the optimum location of propeller combined with the control surface is obtained when the location is a further forward and lower position and increasing the control surface size. This yields higher aerodynamic characteristics and give better longitudinal stability.