Design, Aerodynamic Calculation and Manufacturing using CFRP and Additive Manufacturing of a small Tilt-Rotor UAV for Railway Inspection

• Main Authors: Raluca MAIER, Andrei MANDOC, Stefan GHERASIM, Stefan PETCULESCU, David MANOLACHE, Razvan CARLANESCU
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: National Institute for Aerospace Research “Elie Carafoli” - INCAS 2020-12-01
• Series: INCAS Bulletin
• Subjects: unmanned aerial vehicle; manufacturing; carbon fibre composite; 3d printing; additive manufacturing
• Online Access: https://bulletin.incas.ro/files/maier_mandoc_gherasim__all__vol_12_iss_4.pdf

The present paper aims to develop a small scale Unmanned Aerial Vehicle for railway inspection. The development process and structure manufacturing aimed at a low complexity technological process both to meet market requirements and to be economically efficient. To define the architectural structure and its components in the design process, a NACA 0024 aerodynamic profile was selected out of two proposed airfoils. The novelty of this concept is the double benefit of the wing, which serves as a cargo bay while uses a low-cost manufacturing technology, incorporating the 3D printing process. Further, a simplified preliminary aerodynamic calculation was performed, the model was manufactured using composite materials reinforced with carbon fibre while other key components have been obtained using the 3D printing technology. In the end, the manufacturing process was a success and the unmanned aerial vehicle was designed and manufactured specifically that its flight envelope meets the requirements of the mission.