Design and Aerodynamic Characteristics Study of a Spherical Aircraft
Peng Li, Yan Heng Zhang, Han Xu Sun, Hao Pan · Advanced materials research · 2013
In order to achieve the goals of small aircraft’s taking off and landing in any posture and the protection of propeller, a new single-propeller spherical aircraft structure was proposed, which had the capacity of flying in the air and walking on the ground simultaneously. An aerodynamic model of the aircraft was built. The aerodynamic characteristics of the spherical aircraft, including the lift and the anti-torque and the generated torque of the flow deflectors under the propeller’s down airflow, are studied in depth by means of CFD numerical simulation method. A reasonable design and installation program is proposed according to the research results.