Design Studies for Future EAD-Propelled Aircraft

Abstract

Following the first flight of a heavier-than-air EAD-propelled aircraft in 2018 by Xu et al., this thesis contributes to designing and building the next iteration of EAD-propelled aircraft. The nominal design is based on aircraft parameters produced by a geometric programming aircraft design optimizer. This thesis presents an experimental campaign to validate and improve models used by the optimizer. Models of interest are mass, drag, electrical, and structural. Preliminary experiments involve wing bending, charge-buildup on flight components, and large-scale thrust measurements. Detailed design of aircraft components is completed and a full airframe is manufactured. A flight test campaign consisting of both indoor and outdoor tests is completed to quantify the flight characteristics of the airframe and evaluate thrust. Results are presented in the context of several technical, operational, and programmatic suggestions made to improve efforts to design, build, and fly future EAD-propelled aircraft.