A Cross-Facility Comparison of a Method to Evaluate the Wind-Speed Limits of Drones in Complex Airflow

Abstract:
Wind in the urban environment is characterized by local spatial and temporal variations in wind speed, wind direction, and turbulence levels, and can create challenging operating conditions for drones. A methodology was developed to assess the effect of turbulence levels, representative of airflow in the urban environment, on the wind-speed limits of small drones. A similar test program was conducted over four wind tunnel tests in different facilities. In each study, planes of airflow data were characterized downstream of a flat-plate turbulence generator. A drone was then flown at the prescribed planes to establish a relationship between turbulence and wind-speed limits. The cross-facility comparison conducted in this study identified similar downstream turbulence characteristics and consistent wind-speed limits for the drone that was tested.

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