Automatic flight control requirements for transition flight phases when converting long endurance fixed wing UAV to VTOL aircraft

• Main Authors: Zaludin, Zairil Azhar, Gires, Ezanee
• Format: Conference or Workshop Item
• Language: English
• Published: IEEE 2019
• Online Access: http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/78145/1/Automatic%20flight%20control%20requirements%20for%20transition%20flight%20phases%20when%20converting%20long%20endurance%20fixed%20wing%20UAV%20to%20VTOL%20aircraft.pdf; http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/78145/

This paper reviews the 2 most critical flight phases for a Long Endurance Engine Powered Fixed-Wing Hybrid UAV - the transition from hover to forward flight and visa-versa. These phases of flight are necessary as the consequences of replacing the unsuitable horizontal take-off and landing ability with the more convenient vertical take-off and landing capability. After a brief description on the flight profile and a proposal for the hybrid configuration, the paper suggests 3 strategies to enable the hybrid fixed-wing UAV to transition from hover to forward flight and 1 strategy to transition from forward flight to hover. These strategies present themselves as part of the fundamental requirements for the onboard automatic flight control system responsible to regulate these 2 flight phases.