Design and demonstration of a seabird-inspired fixed-wing hybrid UAV-UUV system

Bioinspiration & Biomimetics
William StewartMatthew Bryant

Abstract

This paper looks to the natural world for solutions to many of the challenges associated with the design of fixed-wing cross-domain vehicles. One example is the common murre, a seabird that flies from nesting locations to feeding areas, dives underwater to catch prey and returns. This hunting expedition provides an outline of a possible mission for a cross-domain vehicle. While the challenges of cross-domain vehicles are many, the focus of this paper was on buoyancy management and propulsion. Potential solutions to each challenge, inspired by multiple animals that cross between aerial and underwater domains, are investigated. From these solutions, three design concepts are considered, a quadrotor/fixed-wing hybrid, a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) tailsitter aircraft, and a waterjet-assisted takeoff vehicle. A comparison was made between the capability of each concept to complete two missions based on the common murres' hunting expedition. As a result of this comparison, the VTOL tailsitter design was selected for further study. In-depth design was conducted and a prototype vehicle was built. The completed vehicle prototype successfully conducted submerged operation as well as four air flights. Flights consisted of egress ...Continue Reading

References

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Feb 7, 2017·Interface Focus·Robert SiddallMirko Kovač
Oct 25, 2017·Science Robotics·Yufeng ChenRobert J Wood

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Citations

Dec 19, 2018·Bioinspiration & Biomimetics·S ZimmermanA Abdelkefi
Feb 18, 2020·Bioinspiration & Biomimetics·S Zimmerman, A Abdelkefi
Jan 21, 2020··Yu Herng TanBen M. Chen

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