SANS Research Group

Department Activities

Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering

College of Engineering and Applied ScienceUniversity of Colorado at Colorado Springs

Dave Schmidt

Professor of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineeringdschmidt@uccs.edu

719 262-3580www.uccs.edu/~SANSRL

March 2006

SANS Research Group

MAE Department Overview

Department Established January, 1999.

Faculty: 6 TT, 2 NTT, 1-2 new next Fall

Enrollment: ~ 150 UG, ~ 100 Grad Students

Aerospace Degrees Offered:

B.S. in Mechanical Engineering - Aerospace Minor

M.S. in Mechanical Engineering - Aerospace Focus

PhD in Engineering - Aerospace Focus_________________________________________

Master of Engineering - Space Operations (distance program)

SANS Research Group

Introduction to Key MAEResearch Faculty

Julie Albertson, PhD. Former member of USAFA Faculty - Aerodynamics

Jason Roney. PhD, Cal Davis - Atmospheric Modeling

Ken Saunders, PhD Michigan, Former member of Faculties of RPI and Penn State Universities - Systems Dynamics and Control

Dave Schmidt, PhD Purdue, Former member of Faculties of ASU, Maryland, and Purdue Universities - Aerospace Vehicle Dynamics, Guidance,and Control; Systems Optimization

Jim Stevens, PhD BYU, Former Member of Faculty of Mississippi State University - Energy Systems and Energy Conversion

Steve Tragesser, PhD Purdue, Former Member of Faculty of AFIT -Aerospace Vehicle Dynamics; Systems

SANS Research Group

Research Highlights

Two areas of focus today:

• “Near Space”

AerodynamicsWind ModelingStation Keeping Performance, Dynamics & ControlEnergy (Power) Analysis

• Student UAV Project

Autonomous Guidance & Navigation

SANS Research Group

Where/What Is Near-Space?

37,160 km37,160 km

21,000 km21,000 km

100 – 1000 km 100 – 1000 km

GEOGEO

MEOMEO

LEOLEO

Spa

ceS

pace

SATCOMSATCOM

GPSGPS

IridiumIridium

Air

Air

SurfaceSurface

20 km20 km

Nea

r-S

pace

Nea

r-S

pace

20 km (60,000 ft)20 km (60,000 ft)

100 km (327,000 ft)100 km (327,000 ft)

SANS Research Group

Why Near Space?

Persistent (24/7) Communication and/or Surveillance Platform

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Wind Modeling for Near Space

Possible “Sweet Spots”

STATISTICS:

Year 2004 Height Variation: White Sands (EPZ) and Akron (PIT)

SANS Research Group

Notional Airship Investigated

Vehicle Characteristics:

Volume = 6.1x106 ft3

Length = 450 ftWidth = 100 ftWOEW = 30,000 lbsSolar electric poweredPayload Power = 3 kW (HAA)

Performance Req’m’ts:

Operating Altitude - 65,000 ft< 2 km error - Prob. 0.5< 150 km error - Prob. 0.95

SANS Research Group

Aerodynamic Drag Modeling

• UCCS Low-Speed Tunnel

• Lift-Drag Force Measurements

• Body geometry L/D = 3.9

• ReL = 1.3 x 105 (Low)

• Turbulent Grid Needed

• Mmax = 0.045 (50 fps, 30 kts))

• Area = projected frontal area

Drag Model Required Propulsive Thrust

Drag = CD(1/2 V2)Aref CD - Empirically & Experimentally Verified

Airship Model in Tunnel Test Section

SANS Research Group

Station Keeping Objective

Desired Position(Looking From Above)

Steady Wind, U0

Plus u and v Gustsug vg

Y

X

Y

X

Position Error - X, Y

Objective:Drive Position ErrorTo Zero, In PresenceOf Wind Gusts

SANS Research Group

Station-Keeping Guidance

Desired PositionInertialPosition

InertialVelocity

Controls-Thrust &Fin Defl.

Vehicle Dynamics - Representative Large AirshipModeled at 65,000 ft.

Attitude Controller and Guidance Algorithms (GPS-based)

Allows for assessment of maneuvering-power required

VehicleDynamicsAttitude

Controller KinematicsGuidanceAlgorithm- -

Wind Gusts (turbulence)

SANS Research Group

Pulling it All TogetherIntegrated Platform Analysis

Wind Statistics and Probability Distributions

Aerodynamic Drag Models

Solar Geometric Effects

Vehicle geometry - large airshipGeo latitudeDiurnal and seasonal effects

Energy-Subsystem Efficiencies

Maneuvering Power Requirements

Power Available

Versus

Power Required

SANS Research Group

Student UAV Project