Recent developments in unmanned aircraft systems - hardcover

Recent developments in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS, including UAV and MAV)

Edited by R. Decuypere and M. Carbonaro
VKI LS 2011-04, hardcover, 1 volume, ISBN 978-2-87516-017-1.

Although initially unmanned aerial vehicles were accepted only very slowly by the military, in the 1990’s they brought a real revolution in military operations. Presently they are considered as a standard tool in military thinking. Cross fertilization between defence forces and industry has paved the way to civil applications of UAVs. Being aware of this evolution, in collaboration with the RTO (NATO Research and Technology Organization,) VKI has organized in 1999 and 2003 two VKI-RTO Lecture Series on Unmanned Air Vehicles. Now UAVs have reached a high level of reliability, it is time to think of civil applications of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). This new denomination makes it clear that a UAS is more than only the flying component. The current Lecture Series proceedings include therefore contributions on all aspects dealing with the design, manufacturing, control and operating Unmanned Aerial Systems and its sensors.

The proceedings start with a general overview of UAS: what are the different categories of such systems, what are their performance characteristics and their limitations. This is followed by a contribution on a solar powered UAS flying at very high altitude and operating at low Reynolds number. Then propulsion systems are discussed, including novel technologies such as pulse detonation, fuel cells and solar power. Mini and micro UAS are highlighted, followed by a session on Command and Control. Flight sensors are also discussed. These lecture notes are illustrated by live experiments in the audience. Finally, on the last part an overview is given on the rules to be compliant with when operating UAS in controlled airspace. Constraints associated with integration of manned and unmanned aircraft are discussed.

DECUYPERE, R. – R-D Scientific Consulting, Belgium
Overview of unmanned aircraft systems

KELLEHER, C. – QinetiQ, United Kingdom
Towards eternal flight by solar power

HENDRICK, P. – Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium
Unmanned aircraft propulsion systems

GUGLIERI, G.; QUAGLIOTTI, F.; CAPELLO, E.; MARGUERETTAZ, P.; SCOLA, A. – ,Politecnico di Torino, Italy
Review of micro and mini UAVs: characteristics and performance

GUGLIERI, G. ; QUAGLIOTTI, F. ; CAPELLO, E. ; DE FILIPPIS, L. ; MARGUERETTAZ, P. ; SARTORI D. – Politecnico di Torino, Italy
Flight control systems integration on mini UAV

KURTULUS, D.F. – METU, Turkey
Introduction to micro air vehicles: concepts, design and applications
Unsteady aerodynamics of flapping aerofoils: case studies with experimental, numerical, theoretical and soft computing methods

ABATE, G. – AFOSR, USA & EOARD, United Kingdom
The role of MAVS in future military missions

DE ANGELIS, E.L.; GIULIETTI, F.; TURCI, M. – University of Bologna, Italy
Avionics, telemetry and ground control station design and prototyping

DE ANGELIS, E.L.; GIULIETTI, F.; TURCI, M. – University of Bologna, Italy
Modeling, control system design and hardware/software-in-the-loop simulation for UAS

CHEVALIER, P.A.J.G. – OIP, Belgium
Fundamentals in optical system engineering

BILLEN, E. – Belgian Civil Aviation Authority, Belgium
Activities on European level to set up a legal framework for certification and use of UAS

HOPFF, P. – Belgocontrol, Belgium
Challenges for UAS operations in segregated and non-segregated airspace

DELOGNE, R. – SONACA S.A., Belgium
The Belgian mod B-HUNTER UAS system: overview, operations, safety of flights and airworthiness certification