Development and flight testing of a UAV with inflatable-rigidizable wings

The present paper provides a snapshot of current work on developing and flying UAVs with inflatable-rigidizable wings. The BIG BLUE (Baseline Inflatable Glider Balloon-Launched Unmanned Experiment) project at the University of Kentucky funded under a NASA Workforce Development Grant has a primary objective of promoting aerospace careers to undergraduate students. The goal of the project is to flight-test a high-altitude aircraft with inflatable-rigidizable wings to determine concept feasibility for a Mars explorer mission. The wings are stowed in the fuselage, inflate during ascent, and rigidize with exposure to UV light. The vehicle will descend as a glider using tail control. Ease of manufacturing is the primary design constraint in choosing the wing profile and planform. Results from combined XFoil and ANSYS analyses on multiple profiles are presented. Low altitude flight tests using the inflatable-rigidizable wings is discussed, as well as a high altitude wing deployment test.