Aircraft design of an endurance UAV platform for multiple mission requirements

For the design of future, complex large-scale unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), aircraft demonstrators with reduced operation cost are frequently used to shorten the development cycle. The Institute for Aerospace Systems at the Technische Universität München (TUM) within a German research consortium led by Cassidian (former EADS DS) designed and initiated the manufacturing of an innovative all-electric UAV platform. The paper gives an overview of an UAV whose endurance, autonomy and environmentally friendly propulsion makes it unique in its class. The development focused on efficient aerodynamics, structure and propulsion for a battery powered flight time of 75 min. The carbon fiber composite structure is able to carry up to 10 kg (22 lbs) of rapidly removable modular payload. The electromagnetic compatibility of multiple electronic systems was validated by use of a static mockup. The UAV presented is an entirely reconfigurable platform for system testing and surveillance.