Design and manufacturing of a tactical unmanned air vehicle

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2010
Şenelt, Engin
The aim of this study is to describe the conceptual design, performance analysis to validate the design and manufacturing steps of Middle East Technical University Tactical Unmanned Air Vehicle (METU TUAV). The system requirements are adopted from a market study and assumed as is. Utilizing competitor search and conceptual design methodology, the rough parameters of the aircraft are defined and a performance analysis is conducted to validate the requirements. After the design team is content that the design is meeting the requirements, material and production techniques are evaluated. The male and female molds of the aircraft are manufactured with glass fibre fabric and special mold resin. Using the female molds; with glass, carbon and aramid fibre materials and epoxy matrix; utilizing wet-layup and vacuum bagging techniques the METU TUAV is manufactured. Wing, tail and fuselage skins are manufactured first and the reinforcing structures are integrated and cured inside the skins. Then the skins are assembled and the separate components are obtained. The rear landing gear and tail booms are also manufactured from carbon fibre composites. The individual parts are assembled together in special alignment jigs and the METU TUAV is completed.

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Citation Formats
E. Şenelt, “Design and manufacturing of a tactical unmanned air vehicle,” M.S. - Master of Science, Middle East Technical University, 2010.