Coming in for a
Landing
It takes a highly skilled pilot to land a
plane on a shortened runway. This is true
with unmanned aircraft systems (UAS)
as well, where highly skilled operators or
a sophisticated autopilot is needed to
land an aircraft in a field with less than
1,000 feet of clearance. If conditions
aren’t perfect, the best options could
be to deploy a parachute or deep stall
the aircraft resulting in a controlled crash
that often damages the aircraft.
Landing with a crash may be a last
resort; however, the fact that it is an
acceptable option in the industry led
Gainesville’s Altavian to find a better
solution. The UAS company partnered
with the University of Florida through The
Corridor’s Matching Grants Research
Program to modify aircraft wings in
a way that could make a crucial
difference.
After about a year of research, UF’s
design modification applied to the
Altavian UAS wing includes a unique flap
that allows it to land slowly at a steeper
glide slope. The design is lightweight and
works similar to a manned airplane wing,
in which flaps help to create lift and drag
for take-off and landing. The difference
lies in a distinctive configuration that
allows for fewer mechanisms. With the
change, a UAS can now land in an open
area with less than 300 feet of clearance.
UF aerospace engineering professor
Dr. Peter Ifju worked with two graduate
students in finding the solution. The
students built an aircraft, flight-tested
prototypes and helped in creating the
final version of the UAS.
Photo: Altavian
“I’m just the ideas guy,” said Ifju. “The students
are the ones doing the work, researching and
creating the solution. The best part of the project,
for me, is working with them to build things
that will be used in the real world.”
And Altavian has plenty of applications for that research in the
real world. With clients that include the Army Corps of Engineers,
the modified wing will enhance the company’s surveying and
data collection services, plus provide a greater product for
customers in the market for an aircraft system.
“We started with a concept that collects data the best,” said
Thomas Reed, Altavian chief production officer. “Then we
created a product that can land in water. The last piece of the
puzzle is to have a system that can fly – and land – anywhere,
and this research is key in doing that. There are similar systems
available now, but you will pay 10 times more to achieve the
capability.”
Reed looks forward to combining the advantages of a small
cheap system, which includes greater landing capabilities, with
the company’s sophisticated data collection operations for a
high quality and affordable system. The company’s ultimate goal
is to build a system that will last forever. Funding from The Corridor
gets Altavian one step closer.
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