Fast numerical techniques for aeroservoelastic analysis, analytic sensitivity analysis, as well as different approximation techniques were developed and evaluated during the years 1991-1996. Special efforts were devoted to the the wing planform shape problem, where a wing shape, together with shape and location of control surfaces, are optimized. We continue working on the problem of aerodynamic model order reduction, and insights and preliminary results are promising. It is believed that the results of these studies will have the potential to affect both design practices and certification practices in the future. With the small size and slow flight speeds of UAVs in the 30 to 100 lbs weight range we can test complete UAVs or large scaled models at real flight Reynolds numbers at UWAL's Kirsten wind tunnel.
Emphasis is on coupled design of systems with tight interdisciplinary interactions and tradeoffs.
Applications include airplane wings, robot arms, flexible satellites, and miniature devices.