Numerical 6DOF simulation of a perching wing deforming UAV

The perching maneuver of a wing deforming UAV is investigated using Open FOAM through 6DOF simulations. To accurately mimic the entire process, the UAV allows 2DOFin the pitch and vertical translation. Moreover, the incoming velocity of the UAV also varies according to the force it experiences. Four different wing deformation rates are analyzed and compared. Results show that the different retraction speed has a considerable effect on the trajectory of the UAV. It is found that a retraction speed of 135o/s allows the UAV to achieve maximum altitude decrease while having a more moderate maneuver. Although the forward speed of the UAV decreases 40% from 13.89 to 8.4 m/s, it is still too fast for landing. Hence, external forces are still required to create a more favorable condition for landing.