Aerial Refueling Tanker and Receiver Aerodynamic Interaction Modeling and Simulation Navy SBIR FY2016.1 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2016.1 Topic No.: N161-003 Topic Title: Aerial Refueling Tanker and Receiver Aerodynamic Interaction Modeling and Simulation Proposal No.: N161-003-0354 Firm: Corvid Innovation LLC 145 Overhill Dr Mooresville, North Carolina 28117 Contact: Greg McGowan Phone: (704) 799-6944 Abstract: As the Navy's fleet of Unmanned Air Systems (UAS) continue to grow so do the desired capabilities of these systems. Of specific interest is the extension of range and endurance through the use of autonomous aerial refueling. This presents a unique challenge to the control law development of the UAS as autonomous refueling can be susceptible to many external variables including atmospheric gusts and tanker air wakes thus requiring sophisticated sense-and-correct control algorithms. These methods hinge on the ability to properly characterize the receiver aircrafts response to both wakes and environmental gusts. As a step toward enhancing receiver aircraft characterization and control laws Corvid Innovation proposes a unique, innovative, and simple toolset for building aircraft aerodynamics models in the presence of leading aircraft wakes. Through a synergistic combination of low-fidelity aerodynamic tools, high-fidelity CFD aerodynamic predictions, and fast running simulation tools Corvid will demonstrate a successful approach that will provide resultant receiver aircraft loads from a spatially varying aerodynamic flow field. Benefits: There are a number of paths for commercializing a high-fidelity, fast-running, capability for predicting aircraft response in a dynamic flowfield. The most notable include: ? Formation Flight ? Aerial UAV Refueling (private sector) ? Small UAV Refueling ? Small UAV Gust Response ? Enhanced Aircraft Spacing Protocols The commonality in each of these examples is a need to accurately model the effects of flowfield disturbances. The methodologies established throughout the Phase I and II efforts will be directly applicable in improving the industries capability of improving control algorithms for aircraft under a complex spatially varying flowfield. Return