Concept options for the aerial survey of Titan

Dorrington, G. E.

doi:10.1016/j.asr.2010.08.033

Cited by 15 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 70 publications

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“…Large induced power correction factors associated with low aspect ratio wing are consistent with this hypothesis. Vertical tunnel tests performed [20] using different small aspect ratio wings pararotors showed induced velocities of 15% of the descent velocity on average, evidencing that the simplificative hypothesis is associated with a representative flight range.…”

Section: Mathematical and Numerical Modelsmentioning

confidence: 95%

Numerical simulation of pararotor dynamics: Effect of mass displacement from blade plane

Piechocki

Mora

Sanz-Andrés

2016

Aerospace Science and Technology

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The pararotor is a biology-inspired decelerator device based on the autorotation of a rotary wing, whose main purpose is to guide a load descent into a certain planetary atmosphere. This paper focuses on a practical approach to the general dynamic stability of a pararotor whose center of mass is displaced from the blade plane. The numerical simulation tool developed is based upon the motion equations of pararotor flight, utilizing a number of simplifying hypotheses that allow the most influencing factors on flight behavior to be determined. Several simulated cases are analyzed to study the effect of different parameters associated with the pararotor configuration on flight dynamics, particularly the center of mass displacement from the blade plane. It was confirmed that the ability to reach stability conditions depends mainly on a limited number of parameters associated with the pararotor configuration: the relationship between principal moments of inertia, the planform shape (associated with blade aerodynamic coefficients and blade area) and the vertical distance between the center of mass and the blade plane. As a result different types of equilibrium solutions are found and the effect of each parameter is characterized. A bifurcation in the stability shape to a precessing conical rotation, not previously found in the linear stability analysis, is predicted by this numerical model.

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Section: Mathematical and Numerical Modelsmentioning

confidence: 95%

Numerical simulation of pararotor dynamics: Effect of mass displacement from blade plane

Piechocki

Mora

Sanz-Andrés

2016

Aerospace Science and Technology

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“…In particular, high resolution aerial imagery would permit improved definition of the highly varied (Earth-like) surface terrain that includes dunes, coasts of methane polar seas and fluvial features (2) . There are many aerial platform concept options (3) . One of the most promising is a Titan Montgolfière (TM) balloon that could float for many months in Titan's relatively dense cryogenic atmosphere whilst being passively warmed by the 'waste' heat transferred from a Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (RTG) placed in or just below the envelope (4)(5)(6)(7)(8) .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Buoyancy estimation of a Montgolfière in the atmosphere of Titan

Dorrington

2013

Aeronaut. j. (1968)

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buoyancy of a thermal balloon, or Montgolfière, intended to float in the atmosphere of Titan is discussed. A laboratory based experiment designed to measure the buoyant lift of an electrically-heated, single-wall, natural-shape balloon is described. The experimental results presented closely match an analytical model employing established heat transfer correlations with selected parameter values. When the model is extrapolated to the cryogenic conditions representative of Titan's lower troposphere, using the same correlations and parameters, the estimated buoyancy is found to be substantially higher than has been previously predicted. To account for the buoyancy difference, it is suggested that the internal free convection heat transfer rate is significantly lower than has been assumed in previous studies. To substantiate this result, it is recommended that further experiments should be performed at higher Rayleigh numbers.

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“…In general, the use of an airplane for Titan in situ studies has been considered but dismissed without thorough investigation [36]. While the flagship studies ultimately favored balloons over airplanes as their atmospheric element, Titan airplanes had been considered several times before that.…”

Section: Historymentioning

confidence: 99%

AVIATR—Aerial Vehicle for In-situ and Airborne Titan Reconnaissance

et al. 2011

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We describe a mission concept for a stand-alone Titan airplane mission: Aerial Vehicle for In-situ and Airborne Titan Reconnaissance (AVI-ATR). With independent delivery and direct-to-Earth communications, AVI-ATR could contribute to Titan science either alone or as part of a sustained Titan Exploration Program. As a focused mission, AVIATR as we have envisioned it would concentrate on the science that an airplane can do best: exploration of Titan's global diversity. We focus on surface geology/hydrology and lower-atmospheric structure and dynamics. With a carefully chosen set of seven instruments-2 near-IR cameras, 1 near-IR spectrometer, a RADAR altimeter, an atmospheric structure suite, a haze sensor, and a raindrop detector-AVIATR could accomplish a significant subset of the scientific objectives of the aerial element of flagship studies. The AVIATR spacecraft stack is composed of a Space Vehicle (SV) for cruise, an Entry Vehicle (EV) for entry and descent, and the Air Vehicle (AV) to fly in Titan's atmosphere. Using an Earth-Jupiter gravity assist trajectory delivers the spacecraft to Titan in 7.5 years, after which the AVIATR AV would operate for a 1-Earthyear nominal mission. We propose a novel 'gravity battery' climb-then-glide strategy to store energy for optimal use during telecommunications sessions. We would optimize our science by using the flexibility of the airplane platform, generating context data and stereo pairs by flying and banking the AV instead

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Concept options for the aerial survey of Titan

Cited by 15 publications

References 70 publications

Numerical simulation of pararotor dynamics: Effect of mass displacement from blade plane

Numerical simulation of pararotor dynamics: Effect of mass displacement from blade plane

Buoyancy estimation of a Montgolfière in the atmosphere of Titan

AVIATR—Aerial Vehicle for In-situ and Airborne Titan Reconnaissance

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