> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.aviumtechnologies.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.aviumtechnologies.com/fixed-wing-uav.md).

# Fixed-wing UAV

The fixed-wing UAV has a wing aspect ratio $$AR=12$$, wing area $$S\_{ref}=0.7729$$m$$^2$$, wing chord $$c\_{ref}=0.2544$$m, and wing span $$b\_{ref}=3.0381$$m. Both the wing and the tail have a taper ratio of 1. A body-fixed coordinate system is placed at the nose. The reference speed is $$|\mathbf{V}\_{ref}|=25$$m/s and the reference density, pressure and viscosity are evaluated at an altitude of $$h=0$$m (ISA). An unstructured mesh of 24674 elements was used. The figures below show the pressure coefficient, the mesh, the panel types, and the doublet potential.

![Fixed-wing UAV pressure coefficient](/files/-MVffMtua_FgSs-bPVZb)

<img src="/files/-MVffzFNoRLI7RgvSaeJ" alt="" data-size="original"> <img src="/files/-MVfg3DkvSGoYs39cxpZ" alt="" data-size="original"> <img src="/files/-MVfg6LihfM9lqIx4UDt" alt="" data-size="original">&#x20;

The pitching moment coefficient of the Cruiser UAV is assumed to be given by:

$$
C\_{m}=C\_{m0}+\frac{x\_{cg}}{c\_{ref}}C\_{Z}\text{,}
$$

where $$x\_{cg}$$ is the distance measured along the x-axis. Once the pitching moment coefficient at the origin of the coordinate system $$C\_{m0}$$ and the Z-force coefficient $$C\_{Z}$$are known from the solution, the pitching moment coefficient $$C\_{m}$$ about an arbitrary point forward or aft of the origin of the coordinate system (along the x-axis) can be obtained. If $$C\_ {m0}$$ and $$C\_{Z}$$ are available at two different angles of attack the neutral point location can be found ($$C\_{m,\alpha}=0$$). The neutral point is the location of the centre of gravity for which a change in the angle of attack does not create a restoring (negative, nose-down) pitching moment.

$$
C\_{m}\rvert\_{\alpha=0}=C\_{m0}\rvert\_{\alpha=0}+\frac{x\_{cg}}{c\_{ref}}C\_{Z}\rvert\_{\alpha=0}\\
C\_{m}\rvert\_{\alpha=5}=C\_{m0}\rvert\_{\alpha=5}+\frac{x\_{cg}}{c\_{ref}}C\_{Z}\rvert\_{\alpha=5}\\
\frac{\partial C\_{m}}{\partial\alpha}=C\_{m,\alpha}=\frac{C\_{m}\rvert\_{\alpha=5}-C\_{m}\rvert\_{\alpha=0}}{\Delta\alpha}=0\text{.}
$$

When the first two equations are substituted in the third, the following expression is obtained for the location of the neutral point $$x\_{cg}$$:

$$
x\_{cg}=-c\_{ref}\frac{C\_{m0}\rvert\_{\alpha=5}-C\_{m0}\rvert\_{\alpha=0}}{C\_{Z}\rvert\_{\alpha=5}-C\_{Z}\rvert\_{\alpha=0}}
$$

For the fixed-wing UAV the location of the neutral point is $$x\_{cg}=-0.5504$$m. The negative sign means that the point is aft of the nose. For a static margin of 10% the centre of gravity location must be $$x\_{cg}=-0.5250$$m. The table below lists the stability derivatives for the fixed-wing UAV evaluated for the center of gravity at $$\vec{r}\_{cg}={-0.5250,0,0}^{T}$$m.

|            | $$\_0$$ | $$\frac{\partial }{\partial\alpha}$$ | $$\frac{\partial }{\partial\beta}$$ | $$\frac{\partial }{\partial\delta\_{a}}$$ | $$\frac{\partial }{\partial\delta\_{e}}$$ | $$\frac{\partial }{\partial\delta\_{r}}$$ | $$\frac{\partial }{\partial\bar{p}}$$ | $$\frac{\partial }{\partial\bar{q}}$$ | $$\frac{\partial }{\partial\bar{r}}$$ |
| ---------- | :-----: | :----------------------------------: | :---------------------------------: | :---------------------------------------: | :---------------------------------------: | :---------------------------------------: | :-----------------------------------: | :-----------------------------------: | :-----------------------------------: |
| $$C\_{X}$$ | -0.0273 |                0.6584                |                0.0151               |                  -0.0114                  |                  -0.0138                  |                  -0.0130                  |                                       |                -0.0850                |                                       |
| $$C\_{Y}$$ |         |                                      |               -0.3221               |                   0.0192                  |                                           |                   0.3318                  |                -0.0864                |                                       |                 0.3365                |
| $$C\_{Z}$$ | -0.3755 |                -5.7537               |                0.0426               |                   0.0042                  |                  -0.5479                  |                   0.0015                  |                                       |                11.1781                |                                       |
| $$C\_{l}$$ |         |                                      |             **-0.0801**             |                   0.2597                  |                                           |                   0.0478                  |                -0.5984                |                                       |                 0.1487                |
| $$C\_{m}$$ |  0.0384 |              **-0.5750**             |                0.0639               |                                           |                  -2.8199                  |                   0.0176                  |                                       |                -34.9704               |                                       |
| $$C\_{n}$$ |         |                                      |              **0.1199**             |                  -0.0091                  |                                           |                  -0.1504                  |                -0.0172                |                                       |                -0.1413                |

The deflections of the ailerons $$\delta\_{a}$$, elevator $$\delta\_{e}$$ and rudder $$\delta\_{r}$$ follow positive conventions. Port aileron down is positive, elevator down is positive, rudder to port is positive. The value for $$C\_{m,\alpha}$$ is $$-0.5750$$ per radian. The negative sign indicates that for a positive increase of the angle of attack there is a negative (nose-down) pitching moment. This shows that the fixed-wing UAV is statically stable in pitch. The signs of the $$C\_{l,\beta}$$and $$C\_{n,\beta}$$ also show that the fixed-wing UAV is statically stable in roll and yaw. The derivatives of the fixed-wing UAV with respect to the rolling, pitching, and yawing were obtained following the approach in the [wing-tail configuration example](/wing-tail-configuration.md). The figures below show pitch and roll forced oscillations with an amplitude of 5 deg and frequency of 2.5 Hz. The respective derivatives are listed in the table above.

<img src="/files/-MVkptvsTI1KJWEid6ZU" alt="" data-size="original"> <img src="/files/-MVkpwiIPU7Q5rTclCD5" alt="" data-size="original"> <img src="/files/-MVkq03D_9kunf5tpmcw" alt="" data-size="original">&#x20;

{% embed url="<https://youtu.be/inP6DoJAcO8>" %}
Fixed-wing UAV forced roll oscillation
{% endembed %}

{% embed url="<https://youtu.be/GqM6l-eAfXM>" %}
Fixed-wing UAV forced pitch oscillation
{% endembed %}

{% embed url="<https://youtu.be/3EAHUdsHSJ4>" %}
Fixed-wing UAV forced yaw oscillation
{% endembed %}
