Reverse Engineering Software Reduces Design Time of NASA UAV Engine Cowling

Engineers at NASA’s Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, CA, needed to redesign the engine cowling of their Systems Integration Evaluation Remote Research Aircraft (SIERRA) to reduce drag and improve fuel economy. The SIERRA is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) routinely deployed for environmental collection missions over remote regions. To design a more aerodynamic cowling, NASA needed an accurate 3D CAD model, consisting of engine dimensions and cowling mounting specifications. Such a model didn’t exist because SIERRA’s engine is an off-the-shelf product.