Recent advances in wing-in-ground effect crafts: Aerodynamics, stability and control

Wing-in-Ground effect (WIG) craft represents a promising mode of high-speed, low-altitude transportation that harnesses the aerodynamic benefits of flying close to the ground or water surface. Operating typically within half the wingspan above the surface, WIG vehicles benefit from a ground-induced high-pressure cushion that enhances lift and reduces drag. WIG craft are perfect for emergency rescue, military missions, coastal logistics, and island commuting due to their increased speed and fuel economy over traditional marine vessels. This review summarizes crucial aerodynamic factors, including ground clearance ratio (h/c = 0.05–0.5), angle of attack (0°–12°), aspect ratio (2.5–8), cruising speeds (8–40 m/s), and wave amplitudes (up to 0.3 m). According to experimental and numerical research, performance benefits include lift-to-drag ratio increases of 20–35%, drag reductions of up to 30%, and lift coefficient enhancements of 0.3–0.6 when compared with aircraft flying at a desired altitude that is outside the ground effect zone. Aerodynamic behaviour in ground effect, stability and control mechanisms, and the impact of external variables such as gusts and sea conditions are some of the major subjects covered. Additionally, recent developments in autonomous control, including deep reinforcement learning, Model Predictive Control (MPC)/H-infinity techniques, and hybrid PID–fuzzy logic, are studied. In addition to outlining potential research and innovation possibilities for WIG systems for both civilian and military uses, the article discusses current issues such as gust sensitivity, sea-state limitations, and energy constraints.