Splash and dash Sherbrookes float and charge VTOL SUWAVE

Sherbrooke University Water-Air VEhicle (SUWAVE) performing takeoffs, flights and dive landings during the summer of 2016. Presented at ICRA 2017, Singapore.

More information can be found in the following article: Peloquin, R. A., Thibault, D., & Lussier Desbiens, A. (2017). Design of a Passive Vertical Takeoff and Landing Aquatic UAV. IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters, 2(2), 381-388.

Abstract: With the goal of extending Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) mission duration, a solar recharge strategy is envisioned with lakes as preferred charging and standby areas. The Sherbrooke University Water-Air VEhicle (SUWAVE) concept developed is able to takeoff and land vertically on water.

The physical prototype consists in a wing coupled to a rotating center body that minimizes the added components with a passive takeoff maneuver. A dynamic model of takeoff, validated with experimental results, serves as a design tool.

The landing is executed by diving, without requiring complex control or wing folding. Structural integrity of the wing is confirmed by investigating the accelerations at impact. A predictive model is developed for various impact velocities. The final prototype has executed multiple repeatable takeoffs and has succeeded in completing full operation cycles of flying, diving, floating and taking off.