Modeling of Flight Dynamics of Morphing Wing Aircraft

Abstract

Aircraft with variable wing geometry (morphable wings) are of considerable interest, not only formission-specific optimization but for enhanced maneuverability as well. In the nascent field of mini or micro unmanned aerial vehicles, large and rapid changes inwing geometry are achievable, resulting in significant changes of the dynamics of the vehicle. In this paper, a simulationmethodology suitable for such aircraft is presented, accounting for the changes in both the aerodynamic and inertial properties. Because of the complexity of the possible wing configurations, the aerodynamics are simulated using an unsteady vortex-lattice approach, solved concurrently with six-degree-offreedom ( ) nonlinear equations of motion. The time dependence of the inertia tensor andmotion ofmass within the body frame are explicitly taken into account, resulting in additional body-frame forces andmoments. The simulation methodology is applied to various gull-wing configurations, and the flight dynamics are analyzed through nonlinear simulation.