Methods for Improvements in Airworthiness of Small UAS

uas;airworthiness

Cline, Charles Benjamin ; Dr. Charles Hall Jr., Committee Chair,Dr. Ashok Gopalarathnam, Committee Member,Dr. Pierre Gremaud, Committee Member,Cline, Charles Benjamin ; Dr. Charles Hall Jr. ; Committee Chair ; Dr. Ashok Gopalarathnam ; Committee Member ; Dr. Pierre Gremaud ; Committee Member

University:North Carolina State University

关键词: uas;    airworthiness;   

Others  :  https://repository.lib.ncsu.edu/bitstream/handle/1840.16/1455/etd.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

美国|英语

来源: null

【 摘 要 】

CLINE, CHARLES BENJAMIN. Methods for Improvements in Airworthiness of Small UAS. (Under the direction of Dr. Charles Hall Jr.)Unmanned Aircraft Systems are a relatively new addition to the myriad of different objects in the skies above us. The use of UAS is desirable over manned aircraft in many cases where their utility and adaptability at low cost allow these platforms to be more cost effective. However, this low cost is often linked to a reduction in overall system reliability and safety, and the question becomes how to increase the airworthiness of these systems without significantly increasing costs. UAS possess distinctive characteristics derived from a broad range of sizes and configurations which have been tailored to specific intended missions. The additional challenges brought on by the lack of an onboard pilot and the need to retain a certain level of cost effectiveness make addressing the airworthiness of these systems a unique problem apart from simply applying the requirements established for manned aviation. This research proposes a method for determining the airworthiness of UAS by a quantitative approach which can be tailored to a specific platform and its intended mission. The proposed set of airworthiness requirements derived from this methodology is presented within this work as the Quantitative Airworthiness Scheme (QAS). QAS is a system level approach to airworthiness linked to hazard analysis where design, manufacture, and testing techniques intended to mitigate failures present in the system are awarded points depending on their effectiveness. These points are then summed to ascertain the overall airworthiness of the system itself. Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) provides the underlying structure of the system, increasing efficiency through organization enabling QAS users to apply failure mitigations more acutely. The focus of this research has sought to address the airworthiness of small UAS by proposing a certification system capable of adapting to these platforms, which vary in size from 50 lbs to 350 lbs, thoroughly addressing the failures which plague them, and efficiently improving safety and reliability by suggesting low cost yet effective and appropriate mitigation techniques.