The electrostatic autopilot is a device which uses the Earth's vertical potential gradient as a roll and pitch reference by measuring the potential difference between wing tips and between nose and tail. Small radioactive sources are used to ionize the air at the points between which the measurements are made. This serves to supply charge for a differential amplifier. Wind-tunnel tests on this device have shown that the output is windspeed dependent. The output is virtually zero for zero wind speed and increases to a stable value at about 25 m/sec. A simplified mathematical model is presented as an explanation of this behaviour. The model suggests that, as the wind speed increases, the ionized air is drawn into long streams thus reducing the charge density. This in turn reduces losses due to recombination which results in a greater total charge behaviour. Results of calculations based upon this model are in qualitative agreement with experiment.
Study of wind effects on electrostatic autopilots
Studie ueber Windeinwirkungen auf elektrostatische Selbststeueranlagen
Journal of Aircraft ; 11 , 4 ; 221-224
1974
, 4 Quellen
Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)
Englisch
Study of Wind Effects on Electrostatic Autopilots
AIAA | 1974
|Comment on 'wind effects on electrostatic autopilots'
AIAA | 1974
|Engineering Index Backfile | 1956
|Engineering Index Backfile | 1965
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