Editorial

Citation

Isikveren, A.T. (2010), "Editorial", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 82 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2010.12782faa.001

Editorial

Article Type: Editorial From: Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology: An International Journal, Volume 82, Issue 6

Greetings to you, colleagues. Vol. 82, No. 6 is dedicated to publication of a select number of articles further developed from Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Intelligent Unmanned Systems (ICIUS), which took place 17-19 June 2009, in South Korea. The objective of ICIUS is to provide an international forum for researchers and engineers in order to present and discuss the state-of-the-art and emerging trends in intelligent unmanned systems. Main topic areas include: unmanned systems (aerial, terrestrial and underwater); robotics and biomimetics (actuators and sensors); control and computation and, intelligent systems. A unique feature of ICIUS is the preponderance of representatives from all corners of the Asian continent together with those from the Western Hemisphere and Australasia.

In this special issue, five high-quality papers related to control and flight dynamics simulation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been accepted for publication:

1. 1.

   Dharmayanda, H.R., Budiyono, A., Kang, T., “State space identification and implementation of H∞ control design for small scale helicopter”.

2. 2.

   Kim, S., Budiyono, A., Lee, J.H., Kim, D.H., Yoon, K.J., “Control system design and testing for a small scale autonomous helicopter”.

3. 3.

   Budiyono, A., Putro, I.E., Yoon, K.J., Raharja, G.B., Kim, D.H., “Real time hardware simulation of a small scale helicopter dynamics”.

4. 4.

   Park, K.H., Yoon, B.S., Nguyen, N.T., Goo, N.S., Kang, T.S., Yoon, K.J., “Piezo-composite actuated control surface system for flying vehicle”.

5. 5.

   Tien, C.M.T., Goo, N.S., “Use of a piezo-composite generating element for harvesting wind energy in an urban region”.

The issue is essentially split into three main categories. The first focuses on control and simulation. The second offers more pragmatic investigations of how contemporary smart materials can be utilised. The third section is devoted to presentation of archived articles, circa 1970s, that offer some fascinating insights when it concerns the antecedents of UAVs, then known as “drones” or remotely piloted vehicles (RPVs).

In the first category, Hardian Reza Dharmayanda, Agus Budiyono and Taesam Kang outline synthesis of a high-performance, robust H_∞ controller for a small scale helicopter. The intent was to minimise atmospheric disturbances and uncertainties particularly during autonomous hover operations. Focusing on small-scale helicopters again, Seongpil Kim, Agus Budiyono, Jang-Ho Lee, DooHyun Kim and Kwang Joon Yoon deal with a control system design that can effectively handle the high bandwidth dynamics and hyper-sensitive inputs required during autonomous flight operations. Agus Budiyono, Idris E. Putro, K. Yoon, Gilar B. Raharja and G.B. Kim present development of a hardware in the loop simulator for the purpose of control synthesis validation of an autonomous rotorcraft-based UAV.

The last two articles derived from the 5th ICIUS present novel application of piezo-electric materials. Such materials are unique because they produce a charge when strained, or conversely, the materials deform when subjected to an electrical field. Attributes of high frequency, low strain actuation have seen them used to good effect. One example of an effective application is vertical tail buffet alleviation in the Boeing F/A-18. Through physical experimentation, Ki Hoon Park, Bum Soo Yoon, Ngoc Trung Nguyen, Nam Seo Goo, Tae Sam Kang and Kwang Joon Yoon investigated the feasibility of piezo-composite actuators combined with an integrated controller system for utilisation on a small UAVs. Cam Minh Tri Tien and Nam Seo Goo present a very interesting study showing the potential of a light-weight piezo-composite actuator for purposes of energy harvesting, namely, reclamation of electrical energy stored for later use to recharge a battery or power a device.

Finally, the category devoted to archived papers comprises three articles. “The snipe aerial target system”, Vol. 51, No. 10, October 1979, reviews in detail the Aero Electronics Ltd offering for low-cost air defence aerial targeting and tracking for use with gun and short range missile systems training. An excerpt taken from article “An international engineer’s view of the 1979 Paris air show”, Vol. 51, No. 9, September 1979, introduces the Canadair CL-227, which was a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) RPV with two contra-rotating propellers mounted on an hour-glass-shaped body. The final archived article is again an excerpt taken from “Some unexpected exhibits: a retrospect view of Farnborough – Europe 72”, Vol. 44, No. 10, October 1972 and briefly describes Short’s Skyspy. This RPV had a mission role of VTOL, aerial reconnaissance with an interesting vehicular layout of centre-body supporting a ducted fan powered by a piston engine.

Expressions of gratitude are conveyed to the authors and co-authors of 5th ICIUS for their valuable contributions, in particular Dr Agus Budiyono of Konkuk University for his help in contacting the ICIUS authors. A special word of thanks is expressed to Professor Riti Singh of Cranfield University, who incidentally serves as our Academic Editor, for his support through the preparation of this special issue.

May I suggest to all future authors of Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology who work with or perform research related to UAVs to consider attending future ICIUS, the most recent of which took place 3-5 November 2010, in Bali, Indonesia. The journal is pleased to announce that we will be publishing papers from this conference in 2011 and we hope to continue this collaboration with the organizers of forthcoming ICIUS events.

In closing, on behalf of the Editorial Advisory Board and Editorial Team, it is our express wish you find Vol. 82, No. 6 interesting reading.

Askin T. Isikveren