Integrating supplemental lift devices to improve performance in high speed multi rotor UAVs

This thesis investigates the integration of supplemental lift devices, implemented as fixed wings located generally aft of the vehicle’s center of gravity and lacking control surfaces, into high-speed multi-rotor UAVs. The goal is to improve flight performance across the diverse range of mission profiles these platforms typically encounter. Multi-rotor platforms are traditionally constrained by the need for their propellers to generate both lift and thrust, which limits flight time, top-end speed, and distance. To address these limitations, a detailed analysis of flight regimes was conducted to identify conditions where supplemental lift can offload vertical force production—as well as drag-induced moments—from the propellers. A FlightStream-based computational fluid dynamics simulation process, paired with a custom trim solver, was developed to balance aerodynamic forces and moments across a wide angle-of-attack sweep in order to find a trimmed solution. A controller-based approach was used to solve for trimmed conditions, offering flexibility and faster CFD run times. Informed by Latin Hypercube Sampling to explore the design space efficiently, a series of mission-specific design cases were created, testing different wing geometries and placements. Results showed that properly implemented supplemental lift can significantly reduce power draw during forward flight. The highest-performing configurations demonstrated a more than twofold increase in flight time relative to baseline quadrotors, a 33\% improvement in maximum flight distance, and enhanced dynamic capability with deck angles reaching 85 degrees and elevated top speeds across all mission profiles. This performance gain is largely attributed to the supplemental lift device reducing the burden on the propellers to generate both lift and stabilizing moments. By offloading these functions, overall power requirements decrease, allowing excess power to be redirected toward propulsion or maneuvering, depending on mission demands. This work demonstrates that carefully tailored lift surfaces, guided by system-level trimming tools and simulation-informed mission analysis, can meaningfully enhance UAV endurance and performance.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S. (Master of Science)

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Mechanical Engineering (UMKC)

Grantor

University of Missouri--Kansas City

Year dc:date.issued

2025

Author dc:creator

• Hofer, Nehemiah Craig

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Abdulrahim, Mujahid

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10355/108781

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:mospace.umsystem.edu:10355/108781