Development of a wind tunnel test bench for the characterisation of the aerodynamic performances of a micro-drone

Abstract

This thesis focuses on the design of an experimental test bench optimised for fast and efficient measurements using an automatic processing of the test parameters. This test bench has been developed to characterise the aerodynamic performances of a single ducted fan UAV developed by the start-up Fleye - Flying Robot. The UAV and its aerodynamic characteristics are determined based on the interpretation of experimental measurements in the second part of this work. It includes a discussion on the main ducted fan aerodynamic effects such as the ram drag, the improved propeller efficiency and the control surfaces authority inside a duct. Furthermore, the potential of this test bench for performance optimisation of the UAV current design has been illustrated through a case study discussing the influence of the control surface geometry. Finally, the stability of the UAV and its design parameters have been discussed to provide information and guidelines for improvements of the current Fleye UAV prototype.