Team Members & Role: 

Andrew Tan: Fabrication Lead

Nathan Bresnahan: Design Lead

Sean Lewis: Evaluation Lead

Ahmed Elbashir: Analysis Lead

Robert Bennett: Team Lead

Abstract:

The UMass UAV team lacks the ability to validate their models in an experimental setting. To alleviate this issue, a modular subsonic wind tunnel was requested to perform analysis on their projects. The team does not possess the time nor the resources to design and fabricate their own wind tunnel due to competition deadlines, hence their commission for a wind tunnel. With quality data that can be collected with a wind tunnel, the UAV team will be able to build better quality components and assemblies for their competition and would enable them to perform better. A controlled environment is essential for testing wetted bodies, as it enables data collection which can be interpreted to derive essential characteristics such as lift, drag, etc. This can inform the team early on in prototyping where to steer further design iterations. As stated by the UAV Team, the alternative approach to testing parts in a wind tunnel would be to mount their parts on a moving car and collect data in that manner. This would lead to unsteady, multicomponent flow, inhibiting accurate data collection, as there would be far too many variables that would affect any of the measurements taken. Our team’s approach fulfilled the need for a small-scale, affordable wind tunnel system. The system enables the UAV team to prototype and test scaled versions of their parts to generate helpful data to inform their competition design process. The use of 3D printing and PLA material ensures that any replacement parts are affordable and simple to fabricate, which allows the team to use the tunnel for longer at a lower price point. The provided electrical and mechanical components ensure robust operation while also allowing for future upgrades to further suit their needs.