Affiliation:
1. School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
Abstract
A solar-powered unmanned seaplane is proposed as a new strategy to avoid the challenges faced in a long nonstop solar-powered flight, and is especially designed for sea surveillance mission, like resource exploration, environmental monitoring, and observation of animal migration. A preliminary design of the solar-powered unmanned seaplane is carried out while its flight performance is analyzed later. The conceptual design of a twin-tail boom with large aspect ratio wings and buoyancy system is put forward. Aerodynamic loading of the wings is analyzed and determined by computational fluid dynamics. The energy balance models of the proposed seaplane system are created for the periods that the seaplane moors on the sea to harvest solar energy and flies in the sky to perform the mission. The parameter effects, such as wing loading, takeoff time, weight, cruise speed, takeoff ground distance, takeoff ground time, flight envelope, and endurance are discussed. The energy balance models shows that the proposed solar-powered seaplane can perform the sea surveillance mission at an altitude of around 8 km for months and seasons between latitude 60 ° N and 60 ° S.
Funder
National Natural Science Foundation of China
Subject
Mechanical Engineering,Aerospace Engineering
Cited by
6 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献