Integration and Investigation of Selected On-Board Devices for Development of the Newly Designed Miniature UAV

The article is a development of the topic generally presented in the conference proceedings issued after the 2019 IEEE International Workshop on Metrology for Aerospace. In contrast to topics presented in the conference, the article describes in detail avionic equipment and on-board systems integration process and their in-flight adjustment in regard to the newly designed miniature unmanned aerial vehicle (mini-UAV). The mini-airplane was constructed and assembled in the course of the research project, the purpose of which was to show implementation of a totally new mini-UAV design. The intention of the work was to develop a new unmanned system including an originally constructed small airplane with elements purchased from open market. Such approach should allow to construct a new aerial unmanned system, which technologically would not be very advanced but should be easy to use and relatively inexpensive. The demonstrator mini-airplane has equipment typical for such an object, i.e., electric propulsion, autopilot system, camera head and parachute device for recovery. The key efforts in the project were taken to elaborate an original but easy to use system, to integrate subsystem elements and test them so to prove their functionality and reliability

Low-Cost Satellite Launch System—Aerodynamic Feasibility Study

In recent decades, the rapid development of alternative methods for launching satellites into space has been observed. The main purpose of this work is to obtain reliable information about aerodynamic properties, which will be useful in the preliminary design of a low-cost satellite launch system based on a system consisting of a carrier aircraft and a space rocket orbiter. The numerical geometry of the aircraft carrier was developed as a result of the digitization process of the external surface of a real aircraft. Aerodynamic analysis was performed using specialized software based on solving partial differential equations using the finite volumes method. The results of the aerodynamic analysis were presented in a quantitative and qualitative manner. Furthermore, in order to confirm the correctness of the chosen method, the obtained results were compared with the results of experimental tests carried out in a wind tunnel. This will also prove that the adopted method is sufficient for solving this type of problem. The main advantage of the presented method is obtainment of reliable results in a relatively short time, which is extremely important during the preliminary design stage. The results presented in this paper will certainly be helpful for all researchers involved in the development of new and low-cost methods for launching small satellites into LEO

Low-Cost Satellite Launch System—Aerodynamic Feasibility Study

In recent decades, the rapid development of alternative methods for launching satellites into space has been observed. The main purpose of this work is to obtain reliable information about aerodynamic properties, which will be useful in the preliminary design of a low-cost satellite launch system based on a system consisting of a carrier aircraft and a space rocket orbiter. The numerical geometry of the aircraft carrier was developed as a result of the digitization process of the external surface of a real aircraft. Aerodynamic analysis was performed using specialized software based on solving partial differential equations using the finite volumes method. The results of the aerodynamic analysis were presented in a quantitative and qualitative manner. Furthermore, in order to confirm the correctness of the chosen method, the obtained results were compared with the results of experimental tests carried out in a wind tunnel. This will also prove that the adopted method is sufficient for solving this type of problem. The main advantage of the presented method is obtainment of reliable results in a relatively short time, which is extremely important during the preliminary design stage. The results presented in this paper will certainly be helpful for all researchers involved in the development of new and low-cost methods for launching small satellites into LEO

Responsive Space Assets for Polish Armed Forces: Feasibility Study

This study proposes an alternative (i.e., air-assisted) system for launching payloads (micro-satellites) into space using rockets fired from Su-22 or MiG-29 combat aircraft . This paper verifies and evaluates such an air-assisted rocket system used for launching payloads to low Earth orbit (LEO) in many aspects. Mission profile and rocket drop maneuver concepts have been developed. From the adopted model of calculations and simulation results, it follows that in the considered configuration, the aforementioned aircraft will be capable of accomplishing a mission in which a payload of at least 10 kg is launched into low Earth orbit. The analyses were complemented by simulations and wind tunnel tests verifying the impact that space rockets may exert on the aerodynamic and mechanical properties of the carrier aircraft . Results of numerical simulations and wind tunnel tests to which models of the air-assisted rocket launching system were subjected indicate the rocket’s impact on the aerodynamic characteristics of the aircraft and its in-flight properties is negligible. Similarly, load and strength tests to which the airframe’s load-bearing structures have been subjected also failed to show any significant changes or deformations caused by the space rockets attached. The kits proposed may be deemed as the so-called Responsive Space Assets for the Polish Armed Forces. Implementation of such a system not only offers independence from countries or commercial companies providing space services but also allows us to master new capabilities in the context of deploying satellite systems for safety and defense purposes

A Novel Method for High Temperature Fatigue Testing of Nickel Superalloy Turbine Blades with Additional NDT Diagnostics

In this paper, a novel method for high temperature fatigue strength assessment of nickel superalloy turbine blades after operation at different times (303 and 473 h) was presented. The studies included destructive testing (fatigue testing at temperature 950 °C under cyclic bending load), non-destructive testing (Fluorescent Penetrant Inspection and Eddy Current method), and finite element modelling. High temperature fatigue tests were performed within load range from 5200 to 6600 N using a special self-designed blade grip attached to the conventional testing machine. The experimental results were compared with the finite element model generated from the ANSYS software. It was found that failure of turbine blades occurred in the area with the highest stress concertation, which was accurately predicted by the finite element (FE) model