Smart Design and Optimization of a Universal and Low-Cost Double-Tailed UAV

Many kinds of UAV have been designed as universal platforms today, for the use of cargo, monitor, even bomber during the Russo-Ukrainian War, but it doesn’t mean that design of UAV is becoming so easy, especially when properties like universality, cost and capacity are taken into account meanwhile. In this paper, we developed a smart way to design a new double-tailed layout UAV named “YinRan”, which can fly in two modes (take-off and landing as multi-rotor but flying as fixed-wing) by using hybrid-power. The initial design of the configuration has been introduced firstly with a detailed analysis of aerodynamic with CFD tools, based on the results, the fuselage configuration and paddle direction were optimized to make the aerodynamic efficiency fulfil the demands. Then the Finite Element model for this UAV has been built to evaluate the strength, stiffness and vibration property. Based on the FE model, we also did some optimization works to refine the parameters and make it befit manufacture. Afterwards, the optimized design was manufactured and the total weight was 17.6 kg finally, a very critical but qualified value when compared with the design index. Finally, with ground and flying tests, we verified the performance of this UAV, and the feasibility of the smart design method.