Wake vortex gliding as a new propulsion concept for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

The project deals with a new propulsion concept for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV). The idea of gliding in wake vortices is coming from combination of some principles. These are formation flight, dynamic soaring and surfing. All principles are real applications of energy extraction by movement in fields with velocity gradient. Wake vortices induced by heavy airliners are such fields containing huge amount of energy. These vortices have been studied particularly due to dangerous consequences connected with another airplane wake vortex encounter. New technologies and UAVs development could allow useful utilization of the wake vortices as UAVs propulsion in the near future. Two basic motion ways are considered: steady gliding and dynamic soaring.