UAS

In previous projects, the research group was mainly involved with free-flight measurements, airborne imaging and spectral analysis of agricultural land. In the free-flight measurements, especially the dynamical characteristics of the UAV were investigated. Using a scaled 1:4 model of the DA40-V1 eg investigation of scaling effects and their applicability are examined on the original. With these contexts, a way should be found that allows to transmit the knowledge, which were determined using a scaled model to the original. In practice, there is a vast field of application for the different UAV classes because they are often superior to manned aircraft in economic terms, due to their flexible and low cost usability. Possible scenarios as they were already partially examined on the IFB, the safety of buildings, security of infrastructure, control of transport routes, mapping, imaging, …

The topic of the unmanned aircraft represents a summarize-faceted field of research which combines different engineering disciplines. The IFB offers expertise in several areas:

Design and construction of UAVs
Avionics development
System integration
Professional flight and test planning and execution

Through its years of experience in aircraft design and construction, the institution is also able to realize unconventional UAV concepts. Biggest realized UAVs are:

The Airbus Demonstratormodell "VELA2" was one of the first projects of the department and is the realization of a Blended Wing Body (flying wing). It is used for scaled free-flight measurements to study the flight-dynamic similarity analysis. The demonstrator has a wingspan of 3.30 m and is powered by a turbine engine. The development of the structure and the avionics was realized by the IFB.

NACRE (New Aircraft Concept Reaserch) was the largest UAV project at the IFB. The goal of the research program funded by the European project FP6 was to development of a research drone for examining different aircraft configurations. The resulting UAV has a wing span of 4:16 m, a maximum takeoff weight of 145 kg and is powered by two JetCat turbines with 440 N of thrust. The IFB developed a modular system design, which includes the complete avionics system, including a proprietary autopilot system and the integrated measuring system for free-flight measurements. This system should support different configurations of wings, engines, etc. With this possibility different configurations should be investigated and compared with conventional aircrafts. As an example, the positioning of the engines on top of the fuselage is to mention the noise emission to reduce by take-off and landing on the ground.

The helicopter UAV "AMPAIRE 1 & 2" were developed in the BMBF project SOGRO (immediate rescue for major accident). The helicopter has a rotor diameter of 3 m and an official authorization to approximately 46 kg take-off mass. With its all-electric drive, for a helicopter of this size, it is in the German university research an innovative leap forward. Beside its innovative drive concept the helicopter is characterized through its autopilot system that allows an autonomous takeoff and landing operation, and automatic waypoint navigation. True to the motto "We lend your project wings" developed the research group at the Institute of Aircraft UAV unmanned aircraft that can fulfill their purpose perfectly. The UAV team is open every time for challenges in research and the development of conventional as well as unconventional innovative UAV types.

Other Projects:

LIDAR Complex - Development of LIDAR technologies for the determination of wind filed structures regarding the optimization of the wind power utilization in mountainous and complex terrain

Content of the project:	Measuring method in complex terrain Wind field analysis and modelling Transfer of the results into parameters for wind energy facilities
Contribution of the IFB:	Development of the measuring system Integration of the measuring system into UAV and flight tests Wind measuring at wind energy facilities with UAV Wind measuring in complex terrain with UAV Measuring data evaluation
Project partners:	Stiftungslehrstuhl Windenergie, Universität Stuttgart Institut für Aerodynamik und Gasdynamik, Universität Stuttgart Zentrum für Angewandte Geowissenschaften, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen Institut für Meteorologie und Klimaforschung – Atmosphärische Umweltforschung, Karlsruher Institut für Technology Kenersys GmbH Windreich AG FGW e.V.
Financing:	Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Naturschutz und Reaktorsicherheit
Duration:	2012 - 2015
Contacts:	Dipl.-Ing Dominique Bergmann Dipl.-Ing Jan Denzel

SOGRO – Instant rescue at big accidents with masses of casualties

Content of the project:	Improvement of the effectiveness during rescue operations of the emergency services at big accidents New triage system Design of a continuous information chain from the accident site to the hospital by means of new information technologies
Contribution of the IFB:	Basic Analysis for the use of UAV flight formations for the support of emergency services during large-scale emergencies Design of the UAV systems and integration of the payload Creation of guidelines for the operation of the UAV for testing purposes Flight tests
Project partners:	ATOS Universität Paderborn Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg im Breisgau Andres Industries AG Deutsches Rotes Kreuz Frankfurt/Main
Financing:	Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung
Duration:	2009 – 2013
Contacts:	Dipl.-Ing Dominique Bergmann Dipl.-Ing Jan Denzel

NACRE - New Aircraft Configuration Research

Content of the project:	Integration and Validation of technologies for the rating and development of new aircraft concepts Development of a solution which is not limited to a certain aircraft concept, but is rather based on a generic aircraft component level (cabin, wing, body, propulsion) which allows the investigation on different new aircraft concepts
Contribution of the IFB:	System design (modular) Development of the avionics system for the IEP (Innovative Evaluation Platform)
Project partners:	Airbus France S.A.S. FR Airbus Deutschland GmbH DE Airbus España S.L. ES Airbus UK Ltd. UK Alenia Aeronautica S.p.A. IT Aircraft Research Association Ltd. UK Centro Italiano Ricerche Aerospaziali S.C.p.A. (CIRA) IT Dassault Aviation S.A. FR Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR) DE EADS Deutschland GmbH DE Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI) SE AIRCELLE SAS FR IBK Ingenieurbüro Dr. Kretschmar DE Integrated Aerospace Sciences Corporation O.E. (INASCO) GR Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial (INTA) ES Messier-Dowty Ltd. UK MTU Aero Engines GmbH DE Stichting Nationaal Lucht- en Ruimtevaart Laboratorium (NLR) NL Office National d’Etudes et de Recherches Aérospatiales (ONERA) FR Projecto, Empreendimentos, Desenvolvimento e Equipamentos Cientificos de Engenharia (PEDECE) PT Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A. IT Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd. & Co. KG DE Rolls-Royce plc UK SAFRAN S.A. FR Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute (TsAGI) RU Vyzkumny a Zkusebni Letecky Ustav, A.S. (VZLU) CZ Trinity College Dublin IE University of Greenwich UK Technische Universität München (TUM) DE Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan (KTH) SE Politechnika Warszawska (Warsaw University of Technology) PL ARTTIC FR University of Southampton UK
Financing:	European Commission (FP6)
Duration:	2005 - 2009
Contacts:	Dipl.-Ing Dominique Bergmann Dipl.-Ing Jan Denzel