Conceptual design of simultaneous wing dihedral adjustment and control system for a mini VTOL UAV

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of dihedral angle manipulation on the aerodynamic performance and optimization of vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) wings through morphing techniques. Design/methodology/approach Morphing operations with variable dihedral angles were implemented on three-dimensional models of VTOL UAV wings. The resulting moments of inertia were analyzed, and aerodynamic performance was optimized using the simultaneous perturbation stochastic approximation (SPSA) method. Control models were applied to evaluate the impact of morphing on the aerodynamic characteristics of the wings. Findings This research highlights the critical role of dihedral angle adjustments in improving flight stability, energy efficiency and overall aerodynamic performance. The combination of computational modeling and optimization techniques, such as SPSA, contributes to an enhanced understanding of the morphological adaptations required for optimal UAV performance. Originality/value This study provides a novel approach to UAV design by focusing on dihedral angle manipulation for aerodynamic performance optimization. The integration of morphing techniques, control models and optimization techniques presents a significant step forward in developing efficient VTOL UAVs. © 2025 Emerald Publishing Limited