Response Surface Modeling of Aerodynamic Interference Effects for Refueling Scenarios Navy SBIR FY2016.1 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2016.1 Topic No.: N161-003 Topic Title: Response Surface Modeling of Aerodynamic Interference Effects for Refueling Scenarios Proposal No.: N161-003-0017 Firm: Combustion Research and Flow Technology, Inc. 6210 Kellers Church Road Pipersville, Pennsylvania 18947 Contact: Peter Cavallo Phone: (215) 766-1520 Web Site: www.craft-tech.com Abstract: Aerial refueling is a mission-critical component of Navy operations. The refueling portion of a mission is made difficult by the inherent interference between the tanker and receiver aircraft. The receiver aircraft may experience various forms of disturbances while approaching the fuel hose and drogue, stressing the control system of an autonomous vehicle. Current flight simulation capabilities are unable to accurately reproduce the impact of the complex tanker wake on the receiver aircraft. The proposed research program will demonstrate the feasibility of a Modeling and Simulation (M&S) toolkit that may be incorporated into the CASTLE simulation environment for simulating incremental changes in the forces and moments of the receiver aircraft as it approaches the tanker during typical refueling scenarios. Through the use of high fidelity Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) predictions, Response Surface Models will be developed which shall encompass the complex wake effects on the receiver aerodynamic coefficients as a low order polynomial. This approach provides an analytic representation of system behavior that may be quickly interrogated for use in real time flight simulation. The proposed program will examine the use of RSMs for different tanker/receiver configurations, and explore their applicability to predicting drogue dynamics during receiver approach. Benefits: The proposed research will benefit simulator training for formation flight, for either piloted or autonomous drone aircraft, and landing simulation of VTOL aircraft to account for ground effect. In the commercial aviation sector, flight simulation has long been of importance for passenger aircraft, and guidelines for spacing between aircraft have long been employed to ensure safe takeoff and landing operations. Implementing the results of the proposed research in commercial flight simulators would assist pilots in understanding and reacting to wake turbulence. In the unmanned flight arena, autonomous and remotely piloted drones are increasingly being used for a variety of applications, including surveying, police and security surveillance, and recreational uses. The toolkits developed in the proposed effort may be of use in developing control laws for collision avoidance with buildings, towers, stadiums, etc. Aerodynamic interference also plays a role in several areas outside of aviation. Wind farms face the challenge of spacing horizontal and vertical axis wind turbines for maximum efficiency and power output. Auto racing and bicycle racing are highly competitive sports in which technological advantages are continuously being sought. Simulators developed to train the driver or rider to feel the effects of the wake of a lead racer would provide realistic training. Similarly, interference effects may be incorporated into gaming technology of race simulation. Use of the modeling approach developed in the proposed SBIR effort would benefit this and other areas. Return