Predicting Rooftop UAS Performance Using CFD: Intro

This is an introduction to my capstone project titled 'Predicting Rooftop UAS Performance Using CFD'

The use of UAS for package delivery is being developed and trialed by a number of companies in the United States. These systems are currently being tested in relatively rural areas until they are proven to be safe, effective, and able to integrate into the national airspace system. The urban environment brings new challenges to UAS delivery, including operations over people, congested communication frequencies, and complex wind patterns.

When estimating wind in an urban area, the use of aviation weather sources, while sufficient for airport and winds aloft observations, cannot capture the complex, localized airflow patterns in an urban or rooftop area. Alternatively, the use of non-aviation ground weather stations located throughout an urban area cannot capture three-dimensional airflow patterns. Awareness of micro-scale wind patterns are beneficial for package delivery UAS as these systems will require a tether, parachute, or landing for payload delivery, all of which occur at lower altitudes where airflow complexity increases due to wind interaction with structures.