The precision crop-dusting UAS scenario presents difficult
scenario in which one aspect must be sacrificed for another. Ideally, all features would be incorporated
and still meet the weight limitations.
However, the reality of the physical component precludes such an
outcome. In the scenario presented, the
assurances already presented to the potential customers will drive the
direction of the upcoming decisions.
The scenario presented makes no
mention of the overall budget for the program or price-per-unit goal. There is no mention of how much it would cost
for both team to produce custom components instead of using the cost-saving,
off-the-shelf parts. There is no mention
of whether weight could be reduced from any other part of the aircraft. Finally there is no definition of how
uncomfortable the safety engineers are in reducing the fuel margin. For purposes of this exercise, let us assume
that:
1) There is a finite budget and the
price-per-unit should be kept as low as possible.
2) The cost for both the flight control
and payload teams to produce custom parts would be, at present, cost
prohibitive.
3) Weight may not be reduced from any
other component of the aircraft except those explicitly mentioned in the
scenario.
4) Reducing the fuel margin could result
in property damage, injury, or death.
With these
constraints in place, we can move forward with the hypothetical scenario.
The marketing personnel have already
touted the payload capacity to the prospective customers. As this will lead the customers to build
their expectations, it would be quite difficult to reduce the payload capacity
and still expect the customers not to have their interests change accordingly. Other aviation programs that have faced
similar problems and challenges to their ability to deliver on promises have
seen customer confidence be diminished (Hemmerdinger, 2014). Therefore, the payload team would take
priority in keeping their design and plan as it stands. The guidance, control, and navigation team will
need to bear the burden of revising their design and plan to reduce
weight. This may mean the production and
use of custom parts and an according increase in financial expenditure.
Assuming the commercial success of
this agricultural UAS, an improved successor model could be designed, building
upon the successful aspects of its predecessor.
Lighter payload components could be incorporated with the savings in
weight used to enlarge the fuel capacity and increase range and endurance. Advances in powerplant technology could also
provide an improved engine that is faster, more fuel-efficient, quieter, or any
combination of these features. History
has shown that customer satisfaction with the preceding platforms can
contribute to the probability of future sales of an improved follow-on model
(Hillaker, 2004). This aspect would
support producing a successor UAS.
References:
Hemmerdinger,
Jon (2014, June). Farnborough: Lockheed
Remains Confident in F-35 Ahead of International Debut. Flight
Global. Retrieved from http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/farnborough-lockheed-remains-confident-in-f-35-ahead-of-international-400065/
Hillaker,
Harry J. (2004, Spring). Technology and
the F-16 Fighting Falcon Jet Fighter. The Bridge, Linking Engineering and Society,
34(1). 24-28
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