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andLandingTacticalUnmannedAerialVehicle
JonathanD.Keith
EngineerandManagingMember
EmpiricalSystemsAerospace,LLC
PismoBeach,CA93448
jonathan.keith@esaero.com
RyanS.Wood
ChiefExecutiveOfficer
FrontlineAerospace,Inc.
Broomfield,CO80020
ryan.wood@frontlineaerospace.com
Abstract
VSTAR(Vertical Takeoff and Landing Swift TacticalAerial Resource) is a tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)
withauniqueintegrationofhistoricalaerospacedesignconcepts.Usingasingleductedfanforverticaltakeoffand
landing operations, VSTAR offers payload flexibility throughout its range of missions. This range of flexibility
comesthroughtheplacementofcargoatthevehiclescenterofgravity,whichisinlinewithductedfanusedfor
verticaltakeoffandlanding(VTOL)operations.Inadditiontotheuniqueplacementofthepayload,theuseoftwo
turbineengines,placedforbalanceandfunctionalintegration,allowsVSTARtooperatemoreefficientlyduring
conventional forward flight. This approach increases range and endurance capabilities while providing greater
reliability and safety for the mission. The configuration of the wing provides distinct advantages from both a
structuralaswellasaerodynamicperspective.Theseaerodynamicbenefitsallowformissionadaptabilitythrough
the use of wingtip extensions and inflight wing planform modifications. Finally, VSTAR incorporates the
MicroFire engine recuperator to provide heightened fuel efficiencies for its turboshaft engines. Through the
integrationofthesedesignconcepts,theVSTARarchitectureallowsforhighflexibilityandexcellentcompetition
amongthecurrenthighdrag,rotorbasedunmanneddesigns.
Nomenclature
C
L
WingLiftCoefficient
C Cost($)
E Emptyweight(lb)
F Fuelweight(lb)
N Noise(db)
FM Figureofmerit
O Observability
P Payloadweight(lb)
R Range(n.mi.)
RES Reservefuelweight(lb)
TOGW Takeoffgrossweight(lb)
TRAP Trappedfuelweight(lb)
V Velocity(kts.)
PresentedattheAHSInternationalSpecialists'Meeting
on Unmanned Rotorcraft, Scottsdale, Arizona, January
20 22, 2008. 2008 by J. D. Keith and R. S. Wood.
PublishedbytheAHSInternationalwithpermission.
Introduction
Figure1TheFaireyRotodyne
2
PreliminaryDesign
Figure2ANSERsV/STOLWheel
1
w
LMP1
= u.4988w
10uw
1.0267
(1)
Figure3VTOLWeightTrendforWeightSizing
OfnoteinFigure3isthetrendgeneratedbyaircraft
using different propulsion approaches. As mentioned
earlier, both VTOL UAVs and manned VTOL aircraft
were used in the study; in addition, both propeller
based aircraft along with jetbased aircraft were
included in the study. Despite this seemingly large
difference between propulsion options, the weight
trend displays minimal error in relation to the
generatedtrendline.
TheprimarydesigncriterionfortheVSTARwasto
filltheneedforanautonomousresupplyaircraft.Such
a mission requires dense payloads to be delivered to
troops in remote locations, often very quickly, while
maintaining as small an audible trace (noise signature)
as possible. These design factors drove VSTARs
sizing in various ways, the first of which was through
theselectionofpayloadweights.
Utilizing the above equation along with the initial
mission profile, aircraft assumptions (Table 1), and the
weight fraction method
3
, the VSTARs initial takeoff
gross weight and empty weight were estimated to be
100
1,000
10,000
100,000
1,000 10,000 100,000
A
i
r
c
r
a
f
t
E
m
p
t
y
W
e
i
g
h
t
l
b
s
.
)
Aircraft Takeoff Gross Weight (lbs.)
2,360 lb and 1600 lb respectively (Table 2). As seen
represented by the larger data marker above in Figure
3, the initial takeoff gross weight estimated by the
trendlineandweightfractionmethodfallstowardsthe
bottom of the data set but remains inline with the
datainthegraph.
Table1InitialMissionProfileandAssumptions
MissionRequirements
Item Value Units
Payload 400 lb
Range 400 nmi
CruiseSpeed 300 kts
CruiseAltitude 15,000 ft
MissionAssumptions
LoiterSpeed 180 kts
MaxC
L
1.6
WingLoading 85 lb/ft
2
No.ofEngines 2
CruiseThrottle 85%
CruiseTSFC 0.55 lb/lbhr
CruiseC
L
0.30
StallSpeed 125 kts
Table2InitialWeightEstimationsforVSTAR
Category Weight(lb)
W
TOGW
2,360
W
RES
130
W
TRAP
26
W
FUEL
602
W
EMPTY
1,600
W
PAYLOAD
398
W
E
/W
TOGW
61.6%
W
F
/W
TOGW
23.2%
W
P
/W
TOGW
15.3%
AsnotedinTable1above,apayloadweightof400lb
was selected in order to size the vehicle. While the
takeoff gross weight of 2,360 lb may appear to yield a
smallvehicletocarry400lb,themainelementsofthe
resupply mission are to deliver dense payloads, e.g.
water, food, batteries, and ammunition. Recognizing
the nature of the payloads around which the vehicle
was designed lead to the first major design innovation
ontheVSTAR.
InitialConfigurationandVehicleLayout
RealizingthatVTOLaircraftareverysensitivetothe
aircraftscenterofgravity(c.g.),VSTARwasdesigned
around the payload bay, providing flexibility in the
weights of payloads that VSTAR can carry. In order
toaccomplishthisdesignfeature,VSTARisdesigned
with a counterrotating ducted fan used for vertical
takeoff and landing. This central fan, featuring an
emptyhubinthecenter,allowspayloadtobeplacedat
the center of the fan and thus minimizes the concern
surrounding payload weight limits. Figure 4 below
shows the payload integration at the center of the
vehiclesliftfan.
Figure4VSTARPayloadIntegration
Figure5VSTARsDiamondBoxWing
Inthepreliminarydesignphase,theabilitytochange
the fuselage station of the wing joints, essentially
changing the sweep on both the front and rear wings,
allows for the wing systemscenter of liftto be placed
where desired. Additionally, the lack of a horizontal
surfacedirectlynexttotheexhaustofthecentralduct
helps reduce the downward suction that often occurs
withVTOLvehiclesandthelowpressureregioncreated
bytheexitingflow.
For forward propulsion, VSTAR is designed with a
rearmounted ducted fan. In order to power both the
rearmounted ducted fan and the central lift fan, V
STAR incorporates two RollsRoyce Model 250
turboshaft engines. Figure 6shows the enginelinkage
system while Figure 7 depicts the engine placement
insideofVSTARsfuselage.
Figure6VSTAREngineLinkageSystem
Figure7VSTAREngineIntegration
Inordertopowerthecentralliftfan,bothenginesare
coupledtogetheratthecentraltransmissionhub,using
gears to reduce the speed and combine the power of
bothengines.Thisapproach,showninFigure6,utilizes
belt drives and linkages in order to allow the rear
engine to power the rearmounted ducted fan. With
the two engines used to power the vehicle for takeoff
and landing and only one engine used for forward
propulsion, VSTAR incorporates a redundant engine
system whereby either engine can power the rear
mountedductedfanorprovideincreasedpowertothe
rear fan for a "dash speed" exceeding 400 knots. Due
toVSTARsdesignforoperatinginremote,frontline
areas, engine redundancy allows the vehicle to sustain
damage while continuing its conventional flight
operations, even providing reduced descent rates
throughthepartialpoweringofthecentralliftfan.
MissionAdaptivePlanform
Figure8WingtipExtensionsAttachedto
VSTAR
Figure9VSTARWingtipwithMAP
Figure10FlexibilityandScalabilitywith
VSTAR
MicroFireRecuperatorIntegration
Figure11TheWorkingsofaRecuperator
ExhaustDropinRetrofitontheModel250
MassFlowRate3.5lb/s
SystemWeight<50lb(40%GasSavings)
SmallandCompact
ExhaustBypass
PatentPending
FAASupplementalTypeCertificate
Figure12CompetingRecuperatorComparison
Asshowninthefigure,MicroFiredeliversa15to1
relative improvement over the RollsRoyce effort of
nearly five years ago. The impact of the MicroFire
recuperator on VSTAR performance is significant as
evidenced by the improved rangepayload diagrams
showninthenextsection.
MissionPerformanceEstimations
Figure13PayloadRangeDiagram(Baseline)
Figure14PayloadRangeDiagram(MAP)
Figure15PayloadRangeDiagram(WingExtension)
MilitaryMissionsComparison
Logisticsresupplyofdeployedtroops
Endurancefocusedonlongflightendurance
andpersistentIntelligence,Surveillance,
TargetAcquisition,andReconnaissance
(ISTAR)applications
UCAVUnmannedCombatAerialVehicle
HunterKillermostlyanISRendurance
missionwithweapons
ClandestineResupplyquiet,fast,behind
enemylinesresupply
CasualtyEvacuationevacuationofthe
woundedfromthebattlefield
(
p
o
u
n
d
s
)
Range(nauticalmiles)
Baseline
FlightSpeed:~185kts.
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000
P
a
y
l
o
a
d
(
p
o
u
n
d
s
)
Range(nauticalmiles)
MAP
FlightSpeed:(~300kts.)
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000
E
n
d
u
r
a
n
c
e
(
h
o
u
r
s
)
P
a
y
l
o
a
d
(
p
o
u
n
d
s
)
Range(nauticalmiles)
UltraEndurance
FlightSpeed:~153 kts.
knowallthekeyfunctionalrequirementsandtechnical
specifications.Nevertheless,mostaircraftdesignteams
will agree that speed, range, payload, noise, IR
signature, radar signature, cost, life cycle cost,
survivability and durability, all weather capability and
landing zone flexibility are all valid metrics to outrank
andcomparetodifferentUAVdesigns.Determiningthe
perfect (just and fair) analytical metric to compare
competingUAVdesignsisthefinalgoal.
Figure 16 shows the perfect metric which requires
four key elements: 1) a simple and transparent
calculation(intheaircraftdesigncaseanequationthat
blends the key performance metrics i.e. speed,
payload, cost), 2) a common interpretation of the
metrics(designersallknowwhatspeed,range,payload
are and can agree), 3) credible independent data
publishedbytheDODviaUASroadmaps(forexample),
and 4) the military mission that will clearly benefit or
losefromanincreaseordecreaseintheperfectmetric
score.
Figure16RequirementsforaPerfectMetric
Table3MissionComparisonEquations
Mission Equation
Logistics
FH =
IPR
CN
(2)
Endurance
FH =
PRE
2
C0
(3)
Hunter/Killer
FH =
IPRE
C0
(4)
UnmannedCombat
AerialVehicle(UCAV)
FH =
I
2
PR
C0
(5)
CasualtyEvacuation/
ClandestineReSupply
FH =
I
2
PR
CN0
(6)
Figure17CombatReSupplyLogisticsMission
Figure18ComparisonofVSTARwithIts
Competitors
Figure19ComparisonofVSTARCompetitorswith
EachOther
Theseresultsstemfromseveralkeydesignelements
oftheVSTARplatform.TheMicroFirerecuperator
improves fuel consumption and range, while the wing
morphing planform with its folding down and bolton
wing tip extensions dramatically improve lift and drag
ratios. The ducted fan VTOL design has relatively low
noiseanddragcomparedtothoseofhelicopterswhile
the diamondbox and high aspect wings allow for
efficient high speed flight (nearly three times that of
helicopters).
Conclusion
Throughaconventionalconceptualdesignapproach,
a unique blend of historical and stateoftheconcepts
has produced the VSTAR platform. Through the
implementation of recuperator technology as well as
the possibility to increase the wings planform with
minimal design impacts, the VSTAR is poised as an
efficient, effective UAV with potential that extends its
originallogisticsresupplydesignmission.
References
1
Hirschberg, M. J., V/STOL: The First HalfCentury,
American Helicopter Society, URL:
http://www.aiaa.org/tc/vstol/VSTOL.html [cited 22
December2008].
2
Fairey Rotodyne, Wikipedia, Retrieved January 4,
2009,URL:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotodyne
3
Roskam,J.R.,AirplaneDesignPartI:PreliminarySizing
of Airplanes, Roskam Aviation and Engineering
Corporation,Ottawa,1985.
4
Walkovich, J., Joined Wing Aircraft, US Patent
3942747,March9,1976.
5
Advanced Engine Concept Assessment, US Army
ResearchandDevelopmentCommand,RDECOMTR04
D35,ContractNumberDAAH1003C0050.
6
The USAF Stability and Control DATCOM, Volume I,
Users Manual, McDonnell Douglas Astronautics
Company,St.Louis,1979.
AppendixA