Ansys simulation arm, along with Ansys Apex Channel Partner CADFEM Germany GmbH, Wingcopter, has officially confirmed the news of developing cutting-edge drone technology to deliver vital supplies across hard-to-reach areas, including vaccines, medicine, blood/other lab samples, and medical equipment. The companies will also deliver long-rage LiDAR surveying services for infrastructure inspection.
Under the agreed terms, Wingcopter will effectively identify and optimize payload solutions for its drone that could increase the flight range by over 10%, thus delivering more resources to more people.
To understand the significance of such an effort, we must take into account how, in order to design vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft for a smooth transition from hover to cruise, one requires engineering for flexible propulsion systems, aerodynamics, energy efficiency, and safety.
In that respect, Wingcopter will leverage Ansys’ multiphysics and safety analysis solutions to validate its drone design which, on its part, features a redundant battery system and eight motors, four with tilt rotor technology, to achieve enhanced transition towards cruising.
More on the same would reveal how Simulation will make it possible for Wingcopter to simulate, and therefore, estimate drone performance across diverse conditions, such as strong winds, heavy rains, various altitudes, and more. These simulations, once generated, are then compared to field tests and operational data, with the results fed back into the virtual environment. Eventually, the given mechanism creates a data-driven design loop which should enable rapid optimization of parts for better performance and safety.
“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.”
Talk about the whole development on a slightly deeper level, Wingcopter would go on to enhance and certify its drone design using multiple Ansys multiphysics simulation solutions.
These solutions include Ansys Discovery™, which represents 3D simulation software family of products to facilitate simulation setup.
Alongside that, we have Ansys LS-DYNA®, structural simulation software, specifically designed to analyze the crash behavior of landing gears
The next simulation solution in line would be Ansys Fluent™. This one is understood to be fluid simulation software focused on generating greater understanding of aircraft aerodynamics and rotating propeller dynamics for seamless transition from hover to cruise.
Rounding up highlights would be Ansys medini®™ safety analysis software, which revolves around the core objective of developing the required assessments to meet safety certification standards of different international aviation authorities.
“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.”
