Development and performance evaluation of a high-efficiency canard glider UAV

This thesis presents the conceptual design, development, and performance evaluation of a subscale Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) optimized for high-efficiency, low-Reynolds number flight. Designed primarily to enhance range and endurance, the vehicle adopts an unconventional canard configuration coupled with an electric pusher propulsion system. The design methodology followed an iterative process, utilizing the Flow5 computational fluid dynamics solver, which adopts a 3D panel method to also capture the interference phenomena characteristic of canard aircraft. A critical phase of the aerodynamic development involved mitigating the destructive downwash wake generated by the canard. This was achieved by introducing a vertical structural offset and adopting the cambered SD7037 airfoil for both lifting surfaces, reducing trim drag and preventing premature flow separation at low speeds. To guarantee passive flight stability without the need for active control systems, the mass distribution was managed to secure a positive static margin of 13.86%. Lateral-directional stability was achieved through the integration of a 4◦ wing dihedral and a centrally mounted vertical stabilizer, successfully suppressing spiral divergence and lightly damping Dutch roll oscillations. The structural integrity of the airframe was validated through a CAD volumetric analysis, verifying that a lightweight semi-monocoque architecture utilizing balsa, plywood, and carbon fiber could easily withstand peak bending moments while adhering to the 1.280 kg maximum take-off weight constraint. Numerical validation of the fully integrated vehicle, including fuselage interference and skin friction penalties, confirms that the UAV achieves an aerodynamic efficiency of 14.23 and a minimum sink rate of 1.12 m/s. Powered by a 100 W peak electrical system, the platform demonstrates a mission endurance, capable of either 37 minutes of continuous powered cruise or executing over 12 full climb-and-glide cycles.