Design and Initial Flight Testing of a Coaxial Tilting-Head Compound Rotorcraft

James Bennink, Jack W. Langelaan

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

This paper describes the design and initial flight testing of a compound coaxial tilting head rotorcraft (CCT-HR). Control is provided by titling the rotor head for roll and pitch, differential rotor speed for yaw rate, and rotor speed for total thrust. In addition, a longitudinal thruster is incorporated to enable higher speed forward flight and to add a degree of freedom for longitudinal trim in forward flight. The intent is to explore the feasibility of this vehicle concept and to develop a vehicle that can be used to explore control strategies. The steady state flight envelope is developed analytically; a simulation of longitudinal degrees of freedom is described and a control method for forward flight that incorporates the thruster is proposed. Results of near-hover flight tests are described and initial tests of forward flight using the thruster are described. The vehicle is shown to be stable and easily controllable near hover; in thruster-powered forward flight unmodeled rotor dynamics result in instability.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationVertical Flight Society 80th Annual Forum and Technology Display
PublisherVertical Flight Society
ISBN (Electronic)9781713897941
StatePublished - 2024
Event80th Annual Vertical Flight Society Forum and Technology Display, FORUM 2024 - Montreal, Canada
Duration: May 7 2024May 9 2024

Publication series

NameVertical Flight Society 80th Annual Forum and Technology Display

Conference

Conference80th Annual Vertical Flight Society Forum and Technology Display, FORUM 2024
Country/TerritoryCanada
CityMontreal
Period5/7/245/9/24

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Control and Systems Engineering

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