Research Opportunities In Advanced Aerospace Concepts

This report is a review of a team effort that focuses on advanced aerospace concepts of the 21st Century. The paper emphasis advanced technologies, rather than cataloging every unusual aircraft that has ever been attempted. To dispel the myth that "aerodynamics is a mature science" an extensive list of "What we cannot do, or do not know" was enumerated. A zeit geist, a feeling for the spirit of the times, was developed, based on existing research goals. Technological drivers and the constraints that might influence these technological developments in a future society were also examined. The present status of aeronautics, space exploration, and non-aerospace applications, both military and commercial, including enabling technologies are discussed. A discussion of non-technological issues affecting advanced concepts research is presented. The benefit of using the study of advanced vehicles as a tool to uncover new directions for technology development is often necessary. An appendix is provided containing examples of advanced vehicle configurations currently of interest.Jones, Gregory S. and Bangert, Linda S. and Garber, Donald P. and Huebner, Lawrence D. and McKinley, Robert E. and Sutton, Kenneth and Swanson, Roy C., Jr. and Weinstein, LeonardLangley Research CenterAEROSPACE ENGINEERING; MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH; AIRCRAFT DESIGN; AERODYNAMICS; COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT; MILITARY AIRCRAFT; HYPERSONIC FLIGHT; MANEUVERABILITY; SUPERSONIC COMBUSTION RAMJET ENGINES; AEROACOUSTICS; AEROTHERMODYNAMICS; COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS; CONTROL EQUIPMENT; PROPULSION; SEPARATED FLOW; BOUNDARY LAYER SEPARATION

The NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts (NIAC) was formed in 1998 to provide an independent source of advanced aeronautical and space concepts that could dramatically impact how NASA develops and conducts its missions. Until the program's termination in August 2007, NIAC provided an independent open forum, a high-level point of entry to NASA for an external community of innovators, and an external capability for analysis and definition of advanced aeronautics and space concepts to complement the advanced concept activities conducted within NASA. Throughout its 9-year existence, NIAC inspired an atmosphere for innovation that stretched the imagination and encouraged creativity. As requested by Congress, this volume reviews the effectiveness of NIAC and makes recommendations concerning the importance of such a program to NASA and to the nation as a whole, including the proper role of NASA and the federal government in fostering scientific innovation and creativity and in developing advanced concepts for future systems. Key findings and recommendations include that in order to achieve its mission, NASA must have, and is currently lacking, a mechanism to investigate visionary, far-reaching advanced concepts. Therefore, a NIAC-like entity should be reestablished to fill this gap.

Advanced Design Problems in Aerospace Engineering, Volume 1: Advanced Aerospace Systems presents six authoritative lectures on the use of mathematics in the conceptual design of various types of aircraft and spacecraft. It covers the following topics: design of rocket-powered orbital spacecraft (Miele/Mancuso), design of Moon missions (Miele/Mancuso), design of Mars missions (Miele/Wang), design of an experimental guidance system with a perspective flight path display (Sachs), neighboring vehicle design for a two-stage launch vehicle (Well), and controller design for a flexible aircraft (Hanel/Well). This is a reference book of interest to engineers and scientists working in aerospace engineering and related topics.

Comprehensively covers emerging aerospace technologies Advanced UAV aerodynamics, flight stability and control: Novel concepts, theory and applications presents emerging aerospace technologies in the rapidly growing field of unmanned aircraft engineering. Leading scientists, researchers and inventors describe the findings and innovations accomplished in current research programs and industry applications throughout the world. Topics included cover a wide range of new aerodynamics concepts and their applications for real world fixed-wing (airplanes), rotary wing (helicopter) and quad-rotor aircraft. The book begins with two introductory chapters that address fundamental principles of aerodynamics and flight stability and form a knowledge base for the student of Aerospace Engineering. The book then covers aerodynamics of fixed wing, rotary wing and hybrid unmanned aircraft, before introducing aspects of aircraft flight stability and control. Key features: Sound technical level and inclusion of high-quality experimental and numerical data. Direct application of the aerodynamic technologies and flight stability and control principles described in the book in the development of real-world novel unmanned aircraft concepts. Written by world-class academics, engineers, researchers and inventors from prestigious institutions and industry. The book provides up-to-date information in the field of Aerospace Engineering for university students and lecturers, aerodynamics researchers, aerospace engineers, aircraft designers and manufacturers.