Investigation of Flight Conditions where Box-Wing Outperforms Mono-Wing Configurations for Small UAVs

Abstract

We investigate the aerodynamic efficiency and flight dynamics of mono-wing and box-wing configurations across various parameters, including aspect ratio, velocity, and lift requirements. We find that although mono-wing configurations exhibit superior aerodynamic efficiency in certain regimes, box-wing designs perform better in circumstances like high velocities and increased lift demands. Box-wing configurations also prove advantageous when induced drag is higher than friction drag due to their ability to suppress the tip vortices. Furthermore, while analyzing the flight dynamics, low aspect ratio box-wing configurations show improved gust tolerance and stability in longitudinal and lateral dynamics. However, no substantial difference in flight dynamics is observed between box-wing and mono-wing designs for high aspect ratio configurations. The findings underscore the importance of selecting the appropriate wing configuration based on specific performance requirements and operational conditions.