Dynamic soaring of unmanned aerial vehicle within airliner wake vortex in climb regime

Abstract

The paper presents an analysis of an unmanned aerial vehicle gliding in an airliner wake vortex using the dynamic soaring principle. The goal of dynamic soaring is an improvement of flight performance of the unmanned aerial vehicle following an airliner. The paper extends previously published results of an airliner–unmanned aerial vehicle climb regime flight formation analysis. Wake vortex model, the unmanned aerial vehicle basic parameters including drag polar and an airliner climb profile are taken from previous research. Dynamic soaring simulation within wake vortex is performed and evaluated. The presented results provide insight into energy balance and controllability of the unmanned aerial vehicle flying in an airliner wake vortex.

Keywords

Dynamic soaring formation flight wake vortex self-sustained flight unmanned aerial vehicle

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