Development and Verification of an Aerodynamic Model for the NPS Frog UAV Using the CMARC Panel Code Software Suite

The CMARC panel-code is evaluated for the development of an aerodynamic model of the Naval Postgraduate School FROG Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV). CMARC is a personal computer hosted panel-code software suite for solving inviscid, incompressible flow over complex three-dimensional bodies. A panel model of the NPS FROG UAV is developed to obtain stability derivative data at the cruise flight condition. Emphasis is placed on comparing the CMARC data to aerodynamic models obtained from classical design techniques and parameter estimation. Linearized longitudinal and lateral-directional state-equation models are used to compare the dynamic response of each data set. In addition, CMARC is used to generate static-source and angle-of-attack sensor position corrections. Position corrections are provided in look-up table and curve-fit formats. The aerodynamic model obtained with CMARC demonstrated higher fidelity dynamic longitudinal response than the classical design model. Dynamic lateral- directional response is similar to that obtained from classical design techniques. Adjustment through comparison with flight-test data is still required to optimize the CMARC model. Future studies should concentrate on improving CMARC modeling of fuselage side force through the addition of wake separation lines. Additionally, the propeller disk should be modeled in an attempt to capture the effects of increased dynamic pressure over the horizontal and vertical tail surfaces.Naval Postgraduate School Monterey CA is the author of 'Development and Verification of an Aerodynamic Model for the NPS Frog UAV Using the CMARC Panel Code Software Suite', published 1998 under ISBN 9781423557364 and ISBN 1423557360.