{"id":153455,"date":"2026-06-12T09:30:16","date_gmt":"2026-06-12T13:30:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/?p=153455"},"modified":"2026-06-12T11:21:06","modified_gmt":"2026-06-12T15:21:06","slug":"ucf-researchers-are-studying-wing-shapes-to-advance-drone-technology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/ucf-researchers-are-studying-wing-shapes-to-advance-drone-technology\/","title":{"rendered":"UCF Researchers Are Studying Wing Shapes to Advance Drone Technology"},"content":{"rendered":"<hr>\n<p>A bird bursting from the ocean or a mobula ray launching skyward makes the transition from water to air look effortless. For unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, it\u2019s one of the hardest maneuvers to replicate.<\/p>\n<p>Now, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/research\/\">UCF researchers<\/a> are studying how wing shape and motion affect that split-second transition \u2014 work that could help improve future amphibious UAVs.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_153666\" style=\"max-width: 1200px;\" class=\"figure mx-auto d-block\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" class=\"figure-img img-fluid w-100 wp-image-153666 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/05\/Dominic-Polidoro_Samik-Bhattacharya.jpg\" alt srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/05\/Dominic-Polidoro_Samik-Bhattacharya.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/05\/Dominic-Polidoro_Samik-Bhattacharya-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/05\/Dominic-Polidoro_Samik-Bhattacharya-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/05\/Dominic-Polidoro_Samik-Bhattacharya-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/05\/Dominic-Polidoro_Samik-Bhattacharya-360x240.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" class=\"figure-img img-fluid w-100 wp-image-153666 size-full lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201200%20800%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201200%20800%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/05\/Dominic-Polidoro_Samik-Bhattacharya.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/05\/Dominic-Polidoro_Samik-Bhattacharya-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/05\/Dominic-Polidoro_Samik-Bhattacharya-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/05\/Dominic-Polidoro_Samik-Bhattacharya-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/05\/Dominic-Polidoro_Samik-Bhattacharya-360x240.jpg 360w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/05\/Dominic-Polidoro_Samik-Bhattacharya.jpg\"><figcaption class=\"figure-caption\">UCF aerospace engineering master\u2019s student Dominic Polidoro \u201925 (left) and Associate Professor of Aerospace Engineering Samik Bhattacharya (right).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Associate Professor of Aerospace Engineering Samik Bhattacharya and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/degree\/aerospace-engineering-msae\/\">aerospace engineering master\u2019s<\/a> student <strong>Dominic Polidoro \u201925<\/strong> are investigating the physical forces that interact as a wing exits the water and enters the air, a process known as egress. Supported by a grant from the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, known as DEVCOM Army Research Office, the nine-month project aims to develop mathematical models to improve the technology used in military amphibious vehicles.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;This technology can \u2026 enable seamless air-water operations without the need for separate vehicles.&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>The research could also expand the use of amphibious UAVs in civilian scenarios such as search-and-rescue missions in coastal areas, ocean monitoring and disaster response.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis technology can \u2026 enable seamless air-water operations without the need for separate vehicles,\u201d Bhattacharya says. \u201cIn 10 years, amphibious UAVs could perform reliable and stable dives and exits with better payload capacity and autonomous control in complex environments, far beyond today\u2019s unreliable transitions.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>While researchers have extensively studied how drones enter water, far less is understood about how they exit it. Previous studies show that as a wing rises from the water, the lift generated by it will increase until it suddenly reverses direction before stabilizing. Why this occurs is not yet known, but the answer is crucial to understanding UAV performance.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn general, when a UAV egresses, it causes lift overshoot followed by a sharp drop,\u201d Bhattacharya says. \u201cSuch rapid changes in lift forces can create instability, leading to loss of control. Understanding this transition will not only improve our knowledge of creatures in nature but also allow for drone designs that can use or mitigate the lift increase and decrease that occurs.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_153678\" style=\"max-width: 640px;\" class=\"figure mx-auto d-block\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" class=\"figure-img img-fluid w-100 wp-image-153678 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/06\/wing-samik.gif\" alt=\"Animated GIF showing a 3D-printed wing attached to a mechanical device rising from a water tank illuminated by a green laser light.\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" class=\"figure-img img-fluid w-100 wp-image-153678 size-full lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20640%20427%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Animated GIF showing a 3D-printed wing attached to a mechanical device rising from a water tank illuminated by a green laser light.\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/06\/wing-samik.gif\"><figcaption class=\"figure-caption\">UCF researchers are using a water tank and 3D-printed wings to study how surface deformation, waves and vortex shedding influence egress \u2014 the transition of a wing from water to air.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Inside the <a href=\"https:\/\/mae.ucf.edu\/Efml\/\">Experimental Fluid Mechanics Lab<\/a> in <a href=\"https:\/\/mae.ucf.edu\/\">UCF\u2019s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering<\/a>, Bhattacharya and Polidoro use a water tank and 3D-printed wings to study how surface deformation, waves and vortex shedding interact during egress. They aim to better understand the physical forces that drive this transition.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s difficult to disentangle the effects of surface deformation, waves and vortex shedding because they occur simultaneously on very short timescales and strongly influence each other,\u201d Bhattacharya says.<\/p>\n<p>The duo presented earlier findings from their research at the 2026 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics SciTech Forum in January.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Faculty Background<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_153701\" style=\"max-width: 300px;\" class=\"figure mx-auto d-block\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"figure-img img-fluid w-100 wp-image-153701 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/06\/Samik-Bhattacharya_300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Man in suit wearing glasses\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/06\/Samik-Bhattacharya_300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/06\/Samik-Bhattacharya_300x300-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"figure-img img-fluid w-100 wp-image-153701 size-full lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20300%20300%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Man in suit wearing glasses\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20300%20300%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/06\/Samik-Bhattacharya_300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/06\/Samik-Bhattacharya_300x300-150x150.jpg 150w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/20\/files\/2026\/06\/Samik-Bhattacharya_300x300.jpg\"><figcaption class=\"figure-caption\">Samik Bhattacharya<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Bhattacharya joined UCF in 2016. He earned his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/degree\/aerospace-engineering-phd\/\">doctoral degree in aerospace engineering<\/a> from The Ohio State University, his master\u2019s degree in aerospace engineering from Auburn University and his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/degree\/mechanical-engineering-bsme\/\">bachelor\u2019s degree in mechanical engineering<\/a> from the National Institute of Technology Warangal, located in India.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Associate Professor Samik Bhattacharya and aerospace engineering master\u2019s student <strong>Dominic Polidoro \u201925<\/strong> are studying the physical forces that interact when wings move from air to water.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":242,"featured_media":153665,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"lazy_load_responsive_images_disabled":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":"","_wp_rev_ctl_limit":""},"categories":[5,23,24],"tags":[7280,973,17393,3047,14916,54328],"tu_author":[],"class_list":["post-153455","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-colleges","category-research","category-science-technology","tag-aerospace-engineering","tag-college-of-engineering-and-computer-science","tag-department-of-mechanical-and-aerospace-engineering","tag-mechanical-engineering","tag-research","tag-samik-bhattacharya"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v22.3 (Yoast SEO v27.5) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>UCF Researchers Are Studying Wing Shapes 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