Trim Analysis of a Moving-mass Actuated Airplane

Abstract

This paper investigates the feasibility of trimming an airplane using internal mass motion as moment generation mechanisms. Two internally moving masses are considered: (i) mass moving laterally to generate rolling moment and (ii) mass moving longitudinally to generate pitching moment. These are to replace aileron and elevator, respectively. Various straightlevel ight conditions are considered to determine the trim conditions, particularly the masses and positions of the moving masses. For a small unmanned aerial vehicle, feasible level ight trim conditions are found using only the longitudinal moving mass, without the conventional aerodynamic control surface, elevator. Furthermore, endurance and range of for straight-level ight conditions are determined and compared with the aircraft with elevator.