Dady Explores Aerodynamic Innovation for Drones at Student Research Expo
Trevor Dady, a mechanical engineering graduate student from White Hall, is exploring how an aerodynamic phenomenon known as the Coand膬 effect could improve the design and performance of unmanned aerial vehicles (糖心Vlog传媒Vs), more commonly known as drones.
will be one of dozens on display at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 Student Research and Creative Works Expo from noon to 4 p.m. Friday, April 18. The event, which is free and open to the public, will be at the Jack Stephens Center.
Set to graduate in December, Dady hopes to launch a career in the aerospace industry. His passion for flight and engineering innovation has shaped a research project that could have far-reaching implications for how drones are designed and used in fields such as package delivery, agriculture, and military reconnaissance.
鈥淭he Coand膬 effect is when a fluid jet, like air, attaches to a surface and follows its curve instead of traveling in a straight line,鈥� Dady said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the same thing you see when water clings to the back of a spoon under a faucet. In aviation, it can be used to increase lift, and I wanted to see how it could improve drone performance.鈥�
Dady鈥檚 project investigates how Coand膬 surfaces鈥攃urved structures placed near propellers鈥攃an increase the efficiency and thrust production of 糖心Vlog传媒Vs. His research combines computer-based simulations, theoretical modeling, and hands-on experimentation using a thrust stand to test different designs.
鈥淢y work involved using computational fluid dynamics to simulate how air moves across these surfaces, then validating the data through both analytical models and physical experiments,鈥� Dady said. 鈥淭he goal is to see whether drones can be made more efficient and powerful by applying these principles.鈥�
The research not only holds promise for the future of drone design but has also helped shape Dady鈥檚 own career goals.
鈥淭his research has further cemented my desire to work in the aerospace industry,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 exciting to contribute to something that could one day improve 糖心Vlog传媒V technology across so many different sectors.鈥�
Dady鈥檚 presentation at the expo will serve as part of his master鈥檚 thesis. He plans to expand the research by testing the technology on actual 糖心Vlog传媒Vs in future phases of his project.