TY - GEN
T1 - Glider dynamics along a circular path inclined to horizontal
AU - Bouskela, Adrien
AU - Shkarayev, Sergey
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Inc, AIAA. All rights reserved.
PY - 2024
Y1 - 2024
N2 - Under unsteady wind conditions, dynamic soaring provides an elegant solution to the problem of unpowered aircraft endurance. The present study analyzes a canonical circular flight path at a set inclination angle relative to the horizontal. Inspired by seabirds, this technique harnesses energy from atmospheric flows through closed cycle flight paths, including upwind ascending and downwind descending trajectories. Remote-controlled glider pilots have successfully used these cycles to reach record velocities within the shear layers found on the leeward side of a ridge. The present study analyzes such flights using a canonical circular trajectory at a fixed inclination angle relative to the horizontal. The dynamics of a glider subject to unsteady winds is solved for a curvilinear path based on a three degree of freedom model in the path variable frame. Subsequently, the energetics along the circular path are analyzed for a step change in wind magnitude at a given altitude. Numerical solutions using a discrete and linear wind shear model are found, producing results for a series of flight path, aerodynamic, and wind parameters. The results provide evidence of the energy gained from repeated crossings of a shear layer characteristic of closed loop dynamic soaring cycles. Optimal path parameters are inferred for different initial glider and wind velocities, constructing a series of solutions that collectively demonstrate the energy accumulation possibilities of leeward dynamic soaring. Flight experiment data indicated sustained energy over numerous cycles within the near-ground boundary layer shear. Solutions are extended to Earth’s high atmospheric jet streams and Martian canyons, demonstrating the feasibility of flight energy accumulation within these environments.
AB - Under unsteady wind conditions, dynamic soaring provides an elegant solution to the problem of unpowered aircraft endurance. The present study analyzes a canonical circular flight path at a set inclination angle relative to the horizontal. Inspired by seabirds, this technique harnesses energy from atmospheric flows through closed cycle flight paths, including upwind ascending and downwind descending trajectories. Remote-controlled glider pilots have successfully used these cycles to reach record velocities within the shear layers found on the leeward side of a ridge. The present study analyzes such flights using a canonical circular trajectory at a fixed inclination angle relative to the horizontal. The dynamics of a glider subject to unsteady winds is solved for a curvilinear path based on a three degree of freedom model in the path variable frame. Subsequently, the energetics along the circular path are analyzed for a step change in wind magnitude at a given altitude. Numerical solutions using a discrete and linear wind shear model are found, producing results for a series of flight path, aerodynamic, and wind parameters. The results provide evidence of the energy gained from repeated crossings of a shear layer characteristic of closed loop dynamic soaring cycles. Optimal path parameters are inferred for different initial glider and wind velocities, constructing a series of solutions that collectively demonstrate the energy accumulation possibilities of leeward dynamic soaring. Flight experiment data indicated sustained energy over numerous cycles within the near-ground boundary layer shear. Solutions are extended to Earth’s high atmospheric jet streams and Martian canyons, demonstrating the feasibility of flight energy accumulation within these environments.
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U2 - 10.2514/6.2024-3571
DO - 10.2514/6.2024-3571
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:85202851836
SN - 9781624107160
T3 - AIAA Aviation Forum and ASCEND, 2024
BT - AIAA Aviation Forum and ASCEND, 2024
PB - American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Inc, AIAA
T2 - AIAA Aviation Forum and ASCEND, 2024
Y2 - 29 July 2024 through 2 August 2024
ER -