In addition to long-range LiDAR surveying services for infrastructure inspection, Wingcopter is creating state-of-the-art drone technology to transport essential supplies, such as vaccines, medication, blood/other lab samples, and medical equipment, to difficult-to-reach locations.
These efforts are backed by Ansys simulation technology and Ansys Apex Channel Partner CADFEM Germany. By working together, Wingcopter was able to find and improve payload options for its drone that could extend its flight range by more than 10%, giving more people access to resources.
For a seamless transition from hover to cruise, vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft must be designed with flexible propulsion systems, aerodynamics, energy efficiency, and safety in mind.
Wingcopter relied on Ansys’ multiphysics and safety analysis tools to verify their drone design, which has eight motors, including four with tiltrotor technology for a smoother transition to cruising, and a redundant battery system.
Wingcopter uses simulation to estimate drone performance in a variety of scenarios, including high winds, heavy rain, different heights, and more. In order to create a data-driven design loop that allows for quick part improvement for improved performance and safety, the simulations are compared to field tests and operational data.
The results are then fed back into the virtual environment. Wingcopter used several Ansys multiphysics simulation tools to improve and validate their drone design:
- Ansys Discovery™ 3D simulation software family of products to facilitate simulation setup
- Ansys LS-DYNA® structural simulation software to analyze the crash behavior of the landing gears
- Ansys Fluent™ fluid simulation software to understand aircraft aerodynamics and rotating propeller dynamics for seamless transition from hover to cruise
- Ansys medini® analyze™ safety analysis software to develop the required assessments to meet safety certification standards of different international aviation authorities
Leadership Comments
“Simulation helps our teams analyze and optimize our drone design, as well as evaluate individual problems on a level of detail that is often not possible or very difficult to test,” said George Robson, team lead for mechanical engineering and aerodynamics at Wingcopter. “By leveraging Ansys’ sophisticated modeling, we can refine every aspect of drone performance, ensuring unparalleled efficiency, reliability, and innovation in aerial solutions.”
“Ansys simulation empowers customers to move beyond linear product development and embrace comprehensive design loops for more innovative and efficient solutions,” said Walt Hearn, senior vice president of worldwide sales and customer excellence at Ansys. “As the requirements for autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles grow more complex, Ansys technology can efficiently manage and adapt to these demands without compromising performance or accuracy. This ensures that our solutions remain effective and reliable, even as the scope of projects expands, helping our customers like Wingcopter continue to push the envelope.”
