Air Traffic Management College,Civil Aviation Flight University of China;Air Traffic Control Center,Civil Aviation Flight University of China;
[Objective] Adopting an efficient UAV formation can leverage wake surfing technology to improve transportation efficiencyand the utilization of low-to-medium altitude airspace, reduce energy consumption, and support the growth of the low-altitude economy.Therefore, choosing a reasonable formation is an important issue in UAV formation flight. To solve this problem, this study designs twoformation types, namely “V” and “I,” for three fixed-wing UAVs of the same type, inspired by the flight characteristics of geese migrationin nature. The goal is to improve aerodynamic efficiency by simulating nature's strategies for improved UAV formation performance.[Methods] Using large-scale finite element analysis software CFD and k–ω SST turbulence model, detailed 3D models of the twoformation types were created. The air flow field of UAVs during the flight was simulated. Based on numerical simulation results,comparisons were made to evaluate changes in wake vortex intensity, pressure distribution on the upper surface of the wing, and variationsin the aerodynamic parameters of the rear aircraft for both formation types. These analyses provided insights into the optimal formationand the spatial position of front and rear aircraft. [Results and Conclusions] The experimental results indicate that the tail vortex strength,wing pressure distribution, and aerodynamic parameters of the front aircraft remain consistent in both formations. However, the rearaircraft experiences significantly higher tail vortex intensity and wing pressure distribution compared to the front aircraft. Furthermore, therear aircraft's lift coefficient and lift-to-drag ratio increase and then decrease as the longitudinal distance grows but exhibit a continuousdecline with increasing vertical distance. For both formation types, the optimal aerodynamic efficiency was observed at a longitudinaldistance of 2.50 m, a vertical distance of 0 m, and a lateral distance of 1.89 m between the rear and front aircraft. At this configuration, thelift-to-drag ratio improvement for the rear aircraft reached 16.77% in the “V” formation and 13.41% in the “I” formation.
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Basic Information:
DOI：10.16791/j.cnki.sjg.2025.04.020
China Classification Code:V211.5
Citation Information:
[1]陈宽明,卢鹏,叶伟等.编队飞行的无人机气动性能优化及数值模拟[J].实验技术与管理,2025,42(04):155-161.DOI:10.16791/j.cnki.sjg.2025.04.020.
Fund Information:
国家自然科学基金项目(U1733203); 中央高校基本科研业务费专项资金资助(24CAFUC01010)