Comparative eVTOL UAV design optimization

This paper describes a method to simulate and optimize eVTOL UAV. The simulation includes aerodynamics, flight mechanics, structural mechanics, electrical propulsion and flight performance calculations. The optimization is performed in the form of sensitivity studies, varying configuration parameters such as aspect ratio or the cruise speed. The propulsion system simulation is based on a database approach with commercially available components and a method is presented on how to efficiently incorporate and analyze such a database. Three different configurations are compared: a tiltless multirotor VTOL with a designated cruise motor, a fully tiltable multirotor VTOL and a VTOL with tiltable wingtip propulsion. The first and the last one are shown to have the best performance depending on the required cruise speed.