An application of Concurrent Subspace Design (CSD) to the preliminary design of a low-Reynolds number UAV

The Concurrent Subspace Design (CSD) framework has been used to conduct a preliminary design optimization of an electric powered, unmanned air vehicle (EPUAV) operating a low Reynolds number. A multidisciplinary system analysis has been developed for this class of vehicles and includes aerodynamics, weights, propulsion, performance and stability and control. The CSD framework employs artificial neural network based response surfaces to provide approximations to the design space. This approach was applied to two design studies. In one case 29 continuous and discrete design variables were included representing the most demanding application of the CSD framework to date. In each case the CSD framework was able to identify feasible designs with significant weight reductions relative to any previously considered (i.e. initial database) designs. This was accomplished with a limited number of system analyses. The results also demonstrate the adaptive nature of this design framework to changes in design requirements.