The Condor UAV System : A Concept Study

Abstract: In this degree project in aerospace engineering, a preliminary design of a UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) was performed. The UAV was intended to be used as a complement to the Swedish maritime administration’s helicopters, which cannot operate under limited visibility conditions. Its main mission would consist of surveillance. The UAV was therefore designed for some series criteria that were based on the customers’ requirements. The primary literature that was used was John D. Andersons Aircraft performance and design. Otherwise, historical statistical data from other aircraft was used and numerous assumptions were made. The result was a relatively small UAV named The Condor, weighing 25.6 kg with a wingspan of 2.5 m and operational in an altitude of 3500 m with a cruise speed of 81 knots. The UAV’s range is 70 nautical miles and is also able to operate in up to six hours. It should be able to manage a 300 m long runway. The chosen wing profile was the NACA 1412 with a maximal thickness and camber of 12 % and 1 % of the chord length, respectively. As for the stabilizer, the symmetric wing profile NACA 0012 was chosen. A so called constraint analysis was performed in order to determine the engine choice and thewing loading. The chosen engine was a 3.1 horsepower piston engine provided by Ricardo. The dimensions of the fuselage were designed only to fit the payload and no detailed analysis was done. It became 2.3 m long and with a maximal diameter of 0.3 m.