Momentum - March 2019 - 9

STUDENT
GENERATION

Planes in the Micro Class get a hand-thrown launch.

only 0.1350 points, which is significantly smaller than the
average of 12.6 demo points for our top four competitors.
Our assembly demonstration was held in about a minute
and forty seconds, and given that the rules have not
changed, our goal is to dramatically reduce that time to
about 45 seconds by using an improved modular design
on the same pod-boom configuration.
To assure that we can lift the maximum amount of
PVC pipes for a greater number of flights, the proper
prototype takeoff weight was determined, and the
lifting and control surfaces were sized by analytical,
computational fluid dynamics (CFD), and experimental
approaches. The prototype space distribution was tested
inside the same 11.825x13.625x1.000 in box, and the stress
resistance was evaluated using SolidWorks CAD software.

QUANTIFIED AND TESTED
AERODYNAMICS DESIGN OF SURFACES
Some of the aspects of the iterative design process in
which flow results were validated by CFD evaluation
(Xflr5, Xfoil) to guarantee flight performance requirements
such as stability and control were substituted by a more
analytical approach.
The sizing of control surfaces, for example, was
developed to reach the greatest performance under
specific flying performances such as inverse yaw (rudder)
or takeoff trim (elevator). The tail sizing was formulated
too, instead of being iterated to guarantee longitudinal
stability. A significant number of analytical calculations
and CFD validations were conducted to guarantee the
maximum level of operation of each of the surfaces.

INCREASED PROPULSION AND
ALTERNATIVE TOOLS
One key performing aspect of this year's design is
being able to achieve a greater propulsion. For that,
new methods such as emerging computerized neural
MOMENTUM

Wind tunnel testing.

A schematic of the plane as
depicted in the team's design
report. A design challenge
created by judges for SAE Aero
Design 2018 was incorporation
of PVC piping into the airframe.
networks were evaluated to predict and optimize aerodynamics
variables on the propulsion system, making sure that it is adequate
for our prototype to increase the aircraft's endurance and improve its
general performance.
When we arrived at the competition, we were determined to show
that being an engineer is more than studying and analyzing; we wanted
to share what we learned with other teams and make the competition
more human. We celebrated each of our flights because they represent
all of the hard work that we put into the YV-UM09. Even when our plane
crashed, we didn't become discouraged, because it meant that our design
could be better, and we want to keep working on improving our design.
Despite the obstacles presented by Venezuela's economic, political,
and social crisis, we managed to represent our country's academic
excellence, winning second place in the overall score, first place in the
highest payload performance, first place in the oral presentation, and
second place in the written design report. We came back with our
head high and ready to keep working hard, learning and progressing.
This is only the beginning, as we are ready to continue proving our
commitment to progress and technological innovation at SAE Aero
Design East 2019.
This article was written for MOMENTUM by Seane Correa, the team captain
for UNIMET SAE Aero Design who expects to graduate from Universidad
Metropolitana with a bachelor's degree in computer science in 2020.

March 2019 9
Momentum - March 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Momentum - March 2019
