Aerodynamic Design Optimisation of UAV Fuselage to Minimise Drag

Abstract

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are increasingly used for tasks such as building inspection, surveillance, aerial photography, and delivering essential supplies to remote areas. Due to their small size, UAVs typically operate at low speeds and require relatively high lift, which makes aerodynamic efficiency critical. While wings are the primary lift-generating surfaces, the fuselage also significantly contributes to the overall drag. Although the fuselage can provide some lift, this benefit is offset by increased drag. This study aims to design and evaluate UAV fuselage configurations that minimize the coefficient of drag. By optimizing fuselage geometry, the goal is to enhance UAV aerodynamic performance and efficiency.