Design and development considerations for biologically inspired flapping-wing micro air vehicles |
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Authors: | Kevin D Jones Max F Platzer |
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Institution: | (1) Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA, USA |
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Abstract: | In this paper, the decade of numerical and experimental investigations leading to the development of the authors’ unique flapping-wing
micro air vehicle is summarized. Early investigations included the study of boundary layer energization by means of a small
flapping foil embedded in a flat-plate boundary layer, the reduction of the recirculatory flow region behind a backward-facing
step by means of a small flapping foil, and the reduction or suppression of flow separation behind blunt or cusped airfoil
trailing edges by flapping a small foil located in the wake flow region. These studies were followed by systematic investigations
of the aerodynamic characteristics of single flapping airfoils and airfoil combinations. These unsteady flows were described
using flow visualization, laser-Doppler velocimetry in addition to panel and Navier–Stokes computations. It is then shown
how this flapping-wing database was used to conceive, design and develop a micro air vehicle which has a fixed wing for lift
and two flapping wings for thrust generation. While animal flight is characterized by a coupled force generation, the present
design appears to separate lift and thrust. However, in fact, the performance of one surface is closely coupled to the other
surfaces. |
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Keywords: | |
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