At a glance
The RADAERO project aims to develop a performance-enhancing combined material for aviation applications. The project initiated in 2020 and its consortium is made up of Greek academic institutes and industries. It has an almost four-year duration, with the test flights of the UAV models taking place in 2023.
The consortium
The Laboratory of Fluid Mechanics and Turbomachinery (LFMT) at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), in Greece, is responsible for the design of riblet geometries, their numerical and experimental assessment as well as for the flight testing of the UAV models. The Telecom/RF group, at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki is responsible for the design of the meta-material absorber structures (MMA), as well as their numerical and experimental measurements. Nanotypos is responsible for the fabrication of the riblet and MMA coatings using lithographic methods, CFT manufactures the two UAV models and other supporting components out of composite materials.
Innovation
The final combined material, when applied to a UAV, can provide significant benefits in terms of aerodynamic performance, thanks to the riblet coating, reduced RCS signature, due to the presence of meta-material absorbers, as well as reduced overall weight, with the use of CFRP for the fabrication of all main components.
01
AUTH -LFMT
Project coordinator, UAV model design & performance analysis, riblet geometries design, numerical and experimental assessment of riblets, flight testing of model UAVs
02
AUTH – TELECOM/RF
Design of MMA structures for UAV applications, numerical and experimental assessment of MMAs
03
NANOTYPOS
Development and production of MMA structures and riblet geometries for UAV applications
04
CFT
Manufacturing of UAV models, and production of composite material components.