Advances in Aircraft and Spacecraft Science Volume 9, Number 1, January 2022 , pages 17-37 DOI: https://doi.org/10.12989/aas.2022.9.1.017 |
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Full composites hydrogen fuel cells unmanned aerial vehicle with telescopic boom |
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E. Carrera, M. Verrastro and Alberto Boretti
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Abstract | ||
This paper discusses an improved unmanned aerial vehicle, UAV, configuration characterized by telescopic booms to optimize the flight mechanics and fuel consumption of the aircraft at various loading/flight conditions. The starting point consists of a full-composite smaller UAV which was derived by a general aviation ultralight motorized aircraft ULM. The present design, named ToBoFlex, extends the two-booms configuration to a three tons aircraft. To adapt the design to needs relevant to different applications, new solutions were proposed in aerodynamic fields and materials and structural areas. Different structural solutions were reported. To optimize aircraft endurance, the innovative concept of Telescopic Tail Boom was considered along with two different tails architecture. A new structural configuration of the fuselage was proposed. Further consideration of hydrogen fuel cell electric propulsion is now being studied in collaboration between the Polytechnic of Turin and Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University which could be the starting point of future investigations. | ||
Key Words | ||
electric propulsion; full composite aircraft; hydrogen fuel cell; structural design; UAV | ||
Address | ||
E. Carrera: Department of Mechanical and AeroSpace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, c.so Duca degli Abruzzi, Torino, 10129, Italy; Deanship of Research, Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University, P.O. Box 1664, Al Khobar 31952, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia M. Verrastro: Leonardo Company, Piazza Monte Grappa n. 4, 00195 Rome, Italy Alberto Boretti: Independent Scientist, Chancellor Avenue, 3083 Bundoora, Australia | ||