Design and Static Testing of a Low-cost Inflatable Wing

Abstract

Remote controlled (RC) planes, popularly known as drones or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), have gained much attention due to their ability to perform sophisticated tasks, such as environmental monitoring, medical delivery and surveillance. This research was inspired by the demand to explore and develop alternative ways of making UAVs more feasible, less costly and more efficient by utilising the idea of inflatable wings. Previously developed inflatable wings were made from expensive fabricated materials. The use of costly materials is, however, not feasible developing countries, specifically in African countries, which struggle to adopt new technologies due to limited resources. The objective of this study is to create and design a lightweight inflatable wing using low cost and readily available materials that will allow the massive deployment of small aircraft. It also explores different fabrication methods that will enable the low-cost manufacturing of the physical model.