Conceptual Design of a Fixed-Wing Crop Dusting Unmanned Aerial Vehicle A project present to The Faculty of the Department of Aerospace Engineering San Jose State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering By Kelvin Young May, 2016 approved by Dr. Nikos Mourtos Faculty Advisor © 2016 Kevin Young ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2 The Designated Project Advisor(s) Approves the Thesis Titled CONCEPTUAL DESIGN OF A FIXED-WING CROP DUSTING UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE by Kevin Young APPROVED FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF AEROSPACE ENGINEERING SAN JOSÉ STATE UNIVERSITY May 2016 Dr. Nikos Mourtos Department of Aerospace Engineering Advisor ABSTRACT CONCEPTUAL DESIGN OF A FIXED-WING CROP DUSTING UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE by Kevin Young 2 This master’s project studies the conceptual design of a fixed-wing crop dusting unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capable of carrying 50 gallons of pesticide. This UAV will be used to apply pesticide to crops only, and will not be designed to apply pesticide to forested areas. The maximum cruise speed was limited to 45 mph, with an aerial application airspeed of 40 mph, and a takeoff distance of 500 ft. on a dirt runway. The initial gross takeoff weight and wingspan were found to be 1450.0 lb. and 44.8 ft. respectively. The conventional tail design was selected due to the simplicity and low weight. An electrostatic aerial applicator was selected due to the minimized drift and pesticide usage. The quadricycle landing gear arrangement was selected to improve stability on dirt runways. The aircraft was found to not generate enough lift during cruise, requiring a redesign around increasing maximum cruise speed to 90 mph. The redesign fulfilled all requirements. Cost analysis showed the potential for this aircraft to be cheaper than a manned crop duster. Trade studies showed the minimum cruise speed could not be lowered much passed 75 mph, as the aircraft would not generate enough lift. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank all of the people who provided assistance and encouragement while working on this project. First, I would like to thank Professor Nikos Mourtos for his guidance through out this paper and my time at San Jose State University. He was always provided help and support whenever needed during my graduate research. His willingness to meet with me before I 2 decided on attending San Jose State showed me he was passionate and cared about his students. Second, I would like to thank Professor Gonzalo Mendoza for his recommendations on potential topics for this paper. I would also like to thank him for his passion and knowldege during Advanced Aircraft Design. Every interaction with him felt insigtful and furthered my passion for aircraft design. Third, I would like to thank Professor Kamran Turkoglu for his assistance when writing this paper, and his willingness to meet with and help his students. Finally, I would like to thank my family and friends for all of their support and encouragement through out my academic career and my life. Jenny, you were the one who helped me work through what topic I wanted to work on, and help provide information on pesticides. Dad, you were always there to offer me words of encouragement and were a great father and role model. Mom, you were the one that encouraged me to persue my Master’s degree, and have always been the one that pushed me to achieve more and never settle. To receive a Master’s degree from San Jose State University is a great honor, but to be the first person in my family to receive a Master’s degree is a greater honor. This honor would not mean nearly as much without those who have supported me. Again, thank you everyone who encouraged and supported me through out my academic career and my lifetime. 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES........................................................................................................................ LIST OF TABLES......................................................................................................................... NOMENCLATURE....................................................................................................................XIII 1. INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................... 1.1 MOTIVATION................................................................................................................................................1 1.2 OBJECTIVE...................................................................................................................................................1 2. LITERATURE REVIEW............................................................................................................. 2.1 HISTORY OF CROP DUSTING...................................................................................................................2 2.2 CROP DUSTING STUDIES..........................................................................................................................5 2.3 MARKET ANALYSIS & RESEARCH.......................................................................................................14 3. MISSION SPECIFICATIONS................................................................................................... 3.1 MISSION REQUIREMENTS......................................................................................................................18 3.2 GENERAL FLIGHT....................................................................................................................................19 3.3 PAYLOAD....................................................................................................................................................19 3.4 FLIGHT SPEED...........................................................................................................................................19 3.5 ENDURANCE.............................................................................................................................................20 3.6 TAKEOFF AND LANDING........................................................................................................................20 3.7 CREW...........................................................................................................................................................20 3.8 MISSION PROFILE....................................................................................................................................20 4. INITIAL CONFIGURATION................................................................................................... 4.1 DESIGN TAKEOFF WEIGHT....................................................................................................................21 4.2 INITIAL WING CONFIGURATION..........................................................................................................24 4.3 INITIAL TAIL CONFIGURATION.............................................................................................................24 5. INITIAL SIZING....................................................................................................................... 5.1 THRUST-TO-WEIGHT RATIO...................................................................................................................25 5.2 WING LOADING........................................................................................................................................27 5.3 REFINED INITIAL WEIGHT SIZING.......................................................................................................32 5.4 FUSELAGE AND WING SIZING..............................................................................................................34 5.5 TAIL SIZING...............................................................................................................................................34 5.6 CONTROL SURFACE SIZING...................................................................................................................36 6. INITIAL LAYOUT.................................................................................................................... 6.1 PROPULSION AND FUEL SYSTEM........................................................................................................37 6.2 PESTICIDE DISPERSAL METHOD..........................................................................................................40 6.3 AVIONICS....................................................................................................................................................41 6.4 FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM...................................................................................................................41 6.5 ELECTRONICS...........................................................................................................................................42 6.6 WETTED AREAS........................................................................................................................................43 6.7 CONFIGURATION......................................................................................................................................43 6.8 CENTER OF GRAVITY ANALYSIS..........................................................................................................46 7. LANDING GEAR....................................................................................................................