A MEMS-Based Sensor Array for Flow Field Measurements and Aerial Vehicle Control

Small and micro unmanned aerial systems are desired for carrying sensors into cluttered urban environments, areas of dense vegetation, and confined spaces. Control systems for these small vehicles are currently based on control approaches for larger vehicles in well-defined flows and are inadequate for gusty, highly dynamic environments, extreme vehicle maneuvers, and unconventional flight mechanisms. Control of small and micro aerial vehicles under these conditions will require sensing and adapting to small scale flow phenomena in real time. Creare proposes to develop a MEMS-based sensor system that measures pressure and flow velocity across vehicle surfaces. The sensor system is low-cost, lightweight, and easily installed on diverse vehicle shapes, and it will provide critical information related to lift, vortex attachment, and stall. The technology will improve control of small and micro aerial vehicles and enable their use for military recognizance and search and rescue operations. In Phase I, we will demonstrate the basic sensor functionality and outline a conceptual approach for using the sensors for aerial systems control. In Phase II, we will produce and test a breadboard sensor system to demonstrate its effectiveness for aerial vehicle control.