KEYWORDS: Unmanned aerial vehicles, Fluctuations and noise, Mathematical modeling, Modeling and simulation, Failure analysis, Data modeling, Chemical elements, Kinematics, Performance modeling, Systems modeling
A multibody dynamics model of a Vertical Take-off and Landing (VTOL) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) is presented
in this study. The scope of the project was to investigate a lightweight landing gear which has a stable and robust landing
performance. Two original designs of the landing gear for the module of interest have been modeled and analyzed in this
study. Two new designs have also been developed, modeled, and analyzed. A limited analysis of the forces that occur in
the legs/struts has also been performed, to account for possible failure of the members due to buckling.
The model incorporates a sloped surface of deformable terrain for stability analysis of the landing scenarios, and
unilateral constraints to model the ground reaction forces upon contact. The lift forces on the UAV are modeled as
mathematical relations dependent on the speed of the ducted fan to enable the variation of the impact velocities and the
different landing scenarios.
The simulations conducted illustrate that initial conditions at landing have a big impact on the stability of the module.
The two new designs account for the worst possible scenario, and, for the material properties given, end with a larger
weight than the one of the original design with three legs and a ring. Simulation data from several landing scenarios are
presented in this paper, with analysis of the difference in performance among the different designs.
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