Project Sekwa: A variable stability, blended-wing-body, research UAV

Abstract

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in cooperation with the Stellenbosch University initiated a research project to investigate and demonstrate a number of challenges related to the aerodynamics and handling characteristics of flying wing and Blended-Wing-Body (BWB) platforms. The main objective of the project was to investigate the advantages and pitfalls of relaxing the longitudinal stability criteria on a Blended-Wing-Body UAV. The project was also aimed at expanding the current aerodynamic analysis techniques and multi disciplinary optimisation capabilities at the CSIR. The project resulted in the construction of a mini-UAV incorporating a variable stability system for use as a research vehicle and technology demonstrator. The paper will discuss the background and goals of the project, the design process, give a brief overview of the control system and control philosophy, hardware in the loop simulation and the first results of the flight test programme. A parallel paper will discuss in detail the aerodynamic and multi-disciplinary optimisation of the UAV