• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
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• v.32 no.spc3
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• pp.269-274
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• 2012

The research of the biological mimics robot which utilizes the operation of the organism is progressed on the ground, aerial, and underwater robot sector. In the field of flying robot, the research for implementing the wing movement structure of the bird and insect is progressed. The joint structure for the wing movement of the bird is implemented. The operation of the wing is simulated. For this purpose, by using the Matlab/Simulink, the joint structure of the wing is modelled. The joint movement of the wing is tested through the simulation.

• Journal of Korean Association for Spatial Structures
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.65-72
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• 2016

Aerodynamic performance of solar wing system has been evaluated through wind tunnel test. The test model has 12 panels, each supported by 2 cables. The panels were installed horizontally flat, and gaps between panels were set constant. Sag ratios of 2% and 5%, and wind directions between $0^{\circ}$ and $90^{\circ}$ were considered. Mass of test model was determined considering the mass of full scale model, and Froude number and Elastic parameter were satisfied by adjusting the mean wind speed. From the wind tunnel test, it was found that the aerodynamic performance of the solar wing system is very dependent on the wind directions and sag ratios. When the sag was 2%, the fluctuating displacements between the wind directions of $0^{\circ}$ and $30^{\circ}$ increase proportionally to the square of the mean wind speed, implying buffeting-like vibration and a sudden increase in fluctuating displacement was found at large mean wind speed for the wind directions larger than $40^{\circ}$. When the wind direction was larger than $60^{\circ}$, a sudden increase was found both at low and large mean wind speed. When the sag ratio is 5%, distribution of mean displacements is different from that of sag ratio of 2%, and the fluctuating displacements show very different trend from that of sag ratio of 2%.

• Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.43-50
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• 2016

In order to suggest the optimal manufacturing technology of composite wings of solar-powered unmanned aerial vehicles, this study compared forming technologies to reduce wing weight for long-endurance flight and to improve the manufacturing process for cost-saving and mass production. It compared the manufacturing time and weight of various composite wing molding technologies, including cocuring, secondary bonding, and manufacturing by balsa. As a result, wing weight was reduced through cocuring methods such as band type composite fiber/tape lamination technology, which enabled prolonged flight duration. In addition, the reduced manufacturing time led to a lower cost, which is a good example of weight lightening for not only small solar-powered UAVs, but also composite aircraft.

• International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sciences
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.132-138
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• 2016

Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) is developing an electric-driven HALE UAV in order to secure system and operational technologies since 2010. Based on the flight tests and design experiences of the previously developed electric-driven UAVs, KARI has designed EAV-3, a solar-powered HALE UAV. EAV-3 weighs 53kg, the structure weight is 22kg, and features a flexible wing of 19.5m in span with the aspect ratio of 17.4. Designing the main wing and empennage of the EAV-3 the amount of the bending due to the flexible wing, 404mm at 1-G flight condition based on T-800 composite material, and side wind effects due to low cruise speed, $V_{cr}=6m/sec$, are carefully considered. Also, unlike the general aircraft there is no center of gravity shift during the flight because of the EAV-3 is the solar-electric driven UAV. Thus, static margin cuts down to 28.4% and center of gravity moves back to 31% of the Mean Aerodynamic Chord (MAC) comparing with the previously designed the EAV-2 and EAV-2H/2H+ to upgrade the flight performance of the EAV-3.

• 한국태양에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2012.03a
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• pp.404-405
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• 2012

The research of the biological mimics robot which utilizes the operation of the organism and which it applies to the robot is progressed on the ground, aerial, and underwater robot sector. In the field of flying robot, the research for implementing the wing movement structure of the bird and insect is progressed. The joint structure for the wing movement of the bird is implemented. The operation of the wing is simulated. For this purpose, by using the Matlab/Simulink, the joint structure of the wing is modelled. The joint movement of the wing is tested through the simulation.

• Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.50-58
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• 2016

In our preceding study, we reported that the use of light, composite-material wings in long-endurance Solar-Powered UAVs is a critical factor. Ribs are critical components of wings, which prevent buckling and torsion of the wing skin. This study was undertaken to design and manufacture optimal composite ribs. The ribs were manufactured by applying laminated-layer patterns and shapes, considering the anisotropic properties of the composite material. Through the finite element analysis using the MSC Patran/Nastran, the maximum load and the displacement shape were identified. Based on the study results measured by structural tests, we present an optimal design of ribs.

• Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.59-65
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• 2016

Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) is developing an electric-driven HALE UAV in order to secure system and operational technologies since 2010. Based on the 5 years of flight tests and design experiences of the previously developed electric-driven UAVs, KARI has designed EAV-3, a solar-powered HALE UAV. EAV-3 weighs 53 kg, the structure weight is 21 kg, and features a flexible wing of 19.5 m in span with the aspect ratio of 17.4. Designing the main wing and empennage of the EAV-3 the amount of the bending due to the flexible wing, 404 mm at 1-G flight condition based on T-800 composite material, and side wind effects due to low cruise speed, V_cr = 6 m/sec, are carefully considered. Also, unlike the general aircraft there is no center of gravity shift during the flight. Thus, the static margin cuts down to 28.4% and center of gravity moves back to 31% of the Mean Aerodynamic Chord (MAC) comparing to the previously developed scale-down HALE UAVs, EAV-2 and EAV-2H, to minimize a trim drag and enhance a performance of the EAV-3. The first flight of the EAV-3 has successfully conducted on the July 29, 2015 and the test flight above the altitude 14 km has efficiently achieved on the August 5, 2015 at the Goheung aviation center.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.47-58
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• 2014

In this research, the initial sizing of a HALE(High Altitude Long Endurance) UAV which uses solar power and hydrogen fuel cell as an alternative energy was performed. Instead of a wing box type, a glider type was chosen since it is relatively easy to get a data thanks to many researches abroad. Maximum takeoff weight is around 150Kg and the propulsion system is composed of motor, propeller, solar cell, and hydrogen fuel cell which can be recharged through electrolysis. Maximum takeoff weight was estimated as aspect ratio, wing span, wing area change while considering energy balance of required energy which is necessary for flight during the entire day and available energy which can be taken from the solar cell.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aviation and Aeronautics
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.1-9
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• 2011

Several studies on the development for solar powered uninhabited aerial vehicles(UAVs) are under way as the use of the renewable energy becomes more and more important these days. This paper is for the conceptual design by a discrete and iterative method. An initial design point with 1.5 meter wing span is determined in the global design, which deploys the mass and energy balances among each component of UAV including solar cells and airframe. Then, the iteration for subsystems is carried out with the help of Vortex Lattice Method(VLM) to optimize the aircraft configuration and the solar power system. It is demonstrated in simulations that the optimized design increases the flight time from 62 to 120 minutes when the solar power system is installed. Also, the associated dynamic analysis reveals that the designed small aircraft has the acceptable stability and controllability.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.41 no.11
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• pp.908-914
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• 2013

This study has developed a small solar powered UAV and performed its flight tests. In daylight, a solar powered UAV flies by using some of electricity generated from solar cells, and stores the remainder into battery. At night it flies by using electricity from battery. A solar powered UAV should have aerodynamically efficient configurations, light-weight, strong wing and fuselage. Its electric propulsion system and solar power system should also be very efficient. In the present study the solar powered UAV and its solar power system are developed for 12 hour continuous flight and the flight tests are performed to verify its performance. The flight tests performed in fall and winter to prove the present solar powered UAV is successful in four-season 12 hour flight.