Introduction to the Design of Fixed-Wing Micro Air Vehicles: Including Three Case Studies (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9781563478499)

This intriguing book breaks new ground on an emerging subject that has attracted considerable attention: the use of unmanned Micro Air Vehicles (MAVs) to conduct special, limited duration missions. Significant advances in the miniaturization of electronics make it now possible to use vehicles of this type in a detection or surveillance role to carry visual, acoustic, chemical, or biological sensors. Interestingly, many of the advances in MAV technology can be traced directly to annual student competitions, begun in the late 1990s, that use relatively low cost model airplane equipment. The wide variety of configurations entered in these contests and their ongoing success has led to a serious interest in testing the performance of these vehicles for adaptation to practical applications. MAVs present aerodynamic issues unique to their size and the speeds at which they operate. Of particular concern is the aerodynamic efficiency of various fixed wing concepts. Very little information on the performance of low aspect ratio wing planforms existed for this flight regime until MAVs became of interest and the proliferation of fixed wing designs has since expanded. elements of aerodynamics for low aspect ratio wings. Propulsion and the basic concepts for fixed wing MAV design are presented, as is a method for autopilot integration. Three different wing configurations are presented in a series of step-by-step case studies. The goal of the book is to assist both working professionals and students to design, build, and fly MAVs, and do so in a way that will advance the state of the art and lead to the development of even smaller aircraft.

Author: Thomas J. Mueller,James C. Kellogg,Peter Ifju
ISBN-10: 1563478498
ISBN-13: 9781563478499
Publisher: AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics & Ast
Language: English
Published: 04/19/2007
Pages: 287
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.33lbs
Size: 9.13h x 6.38w x 0.79d

Review Citation(s):
Scitech Book News 03/01/2007 pg. 168