Wing design is a critical factor in the aerodynamic performance of flapping-wing(FW)robots.Inspired by the natural wing structures of insects,bats,and birds,we explored how bio-mimetic wing vein morphologies,combined ...Wing design is a critical factor in the aerodynamic performance of flapping-wing(FW)robots.Inspired by the natural wing structures of insects,bats,and birds,we explored how bio-mimetic wing vein morphologies,combined with a bio-inspired double wing clap-and-fling mechanism,affect thrust generation.This study focused on increasing vertical force and payload capacity.Through systematic experimentation with various vein configurations and structural designs,we developed innovative wings optimized for thrust production.Comprehensive tests were conducted to measure aerodynamic forces,power consumption,and wing kinematics across a range of flapping frequencies.Additionally,wings with different aspect ratios,a key factor in wing design,were fabricated and extensively evaluated.The study also examined the role of bio-inspired vein layouts on wing flexibility,a critical component in improving flight efficiency.Our findings demonstrate that the newly developed wing design led to a 20%increase in thrust,achieving up to 30 g-force(gf).This research sheds light on the clap-and-fling effect and establishes a promising framework for bio-inspired wing design,offering significant improvements in both performance and payload capacity for FW robots.展开更多
Micro aerial vehicles(MAVs)have flexibility and maneuverability,which can offer vast potential for applications in both civilian and military domains.Compared to Fixed-wing/Rotor-wing MAVs,Flapping Wing Micro Robots(F...Micro aerial vehicles(MAVs)have flexibility and maneuverability,which can offer vast potential for applications in both civilian and military domains.Compared to Fixed-wing/Rotor-wing MAVs,Flapping Wing Micro Robots(FWMRs)have garnered widespread attention among scientists due to their superior miniaturized aerodynamic theory,reduced noise,and enhanced resistance to disturbances in complex and diverse environments.Flying insects,it not only has remarkable flapping flight ability(wings),but also takeoff and landing habitat ability(legs).If the various functions of flying insects can be imitated,efficient biomimetic FWMRs can be produced.This paper provides a review of the flight kinematics,aerodynamics,and wing structural parameters of insects.Then,the traditional wings and folding wings of insect-inspired FWMRs were compared.The research progress in takeoff and landing of FWMRs was also summarized,and the future developments and challenges for insect-inspired FWMRs were discussed.展开更多
Flapping-Wing Micro Air Vehicles(FMAVs)are compact and agile,capable of accessing narrow spaces that conventional vehicles struggle to reach,such as ruins,caves,or the interiors of complex structures,making them ideal...Flapping-Wing Micro Air Vehicles(FMAVs)are compact and agile,capable of accessing narrow spaces that conventional vehicles struggle to reach,such as ruins,caves,or the interiors of complex structures,making them ideal tools for reconnaissance and rescue missions.1 However,the operation of FMAVs relies on coordinating multiple forces with different scaling effects,posing challenges to miniaturization design.展开更多
This paper studies the trajectory tracking problem of flapping-wing micro aerial vehicles(FWMAVs)in the longitudinal plane.First of all,the kinematics and dynamics of the FWMAV are established,wherein the aerodynamic ...This paper studies the trajectory tracking problem of flapping-wing micro aerial vehicles(FWMAVs)in the longitudinal plane.First of all,the kinematics and dynamics of the FWMAV are established,wherein the aerodynamic force and torque generated by flapping wings and the tail wing are explicitly formulated with respect to the flapping frequency of the wings and the degree of tail wing inclination.To achieve autonomous tracking,an adaptive control scheme is proposed under the hierarchical framework.Specifically,a bounded position controller with hyperbolic tangent functions is designed to produce the desired aerodynamic force,and a pitch command is extracted from the designed position controller.Next,an adaptive attitude controller is designed to track the extracted pitch command,where a radial basis function neural network is introduced to approximate the unknown aerodynamic perturbation torque.Finally,the flapping frequency of the wings and the degree of tail wing inclination are calculated from the designed position and attitude controllers,respectively.In terms of Lyapunov's direct method,it is shown that the tracking errors are bounded and ultimately converge to a small neighborhood around the origin.Simulations are carried out to verify the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme.展开更多
Topology optimization is an effective method to obtain a lightweight structure that meets the requirements of structural strength.Whether the optimization results meet the actual needs mainly depends on the accuracy o...Topology optimization is an effective method to obtain a lightweight structure that meets the requirements of structural strength.Whether the optimization results meet the actual needs mainly depends on the accuracy of the material properties and the boundary conditions,especially for a tiny Flapping-wing Micro Aerial Vehicle(FMAV)transmission system manufactured by 3D printing.In this paper,experimental and numerical computation efforts were undertaken to gain a reliable topology optimization method for the bottom of the transmission system.First,the constitutive behavior of the ultraviolet(UV)curable resin used in fabrication was evaluated.Second,a numerical computation model describing further verified via experiments.Topology optimization modeling considering nonlinear factors,e.g.contact,friction and collision,was presented,and the optimization results were verified by both dynamic simulation and experiments.Finally,detailed discussions on different load cases and constraints were presented to clarify their effect on the optimization.Our methods and results presented in this paper may shed light on the lightweight design of a FMAV.展开更多
The problem of flapping motion control of Micro Air Vehicles (MAVs) with flapping wings was studied in this paper.Based upon the knowledge of skeletal and muscular components of hummingbird, a dynamic model for flappi...The problem of flapping motion control of Micro Air Vehicles (MAVs) with flapping wings was studied in this paper.Based upon the knowledge of skeletal and muscular components of hummingbird, a dynamic model for flapping wing wasdeveloped.A control scheme inspired by human memory and learning concept was constructed for wing motion control ofMAVs.The salient feature of the proposed control lies in its capabilities to improve the control performance by learning fromexperience and observation on its current and past behaviors, without the need for system dynamic information.Furthermore,the overall control scheme has a fairly simple structure and demands little online computations, making it attractive for real-timeimplementation on MAVs.Both theoretical analysis and computer simulation confirms its effectiveness.展开更多
Flapping-Wing Air Vehicles(FWAVs)have been developed to pursue the efficient,agile,and quiet flight of flying animals.However,unlike lightweight FWAVs capable of vertical takeoff,relatively heavy FWAVs face challenges...Flapping-Wing Air Vehicles(FWAVs)have been developed to pursue the efficient,agile,and quiet flight of flying animals.However,unlike lightweight FWAVs capable of vertical takeoff,relatively heavy FWAVs face challenges in self-takeoff,which refers to taking off without both external device and energy input.In this study,a cliff-drop method is implemented for an independent takeoff of a heavy FWAV,relying solely on gravity.In the takeoff process using the cliff-drop method,the FWAV moves on the ground to a cliff edge using a wheel-driving motor and then descends from the cliff to achieve the necessary speed for flight.To demonstrate the cliff-drop method,the KAIST Robotic Hawk(KRoHawk)with a mass of 740 g and a wingspan of 120 cm is developed.The takeoff tests demonstrate that the KRoHawk,significantly heavier than the vertical-takeoff capable FWAVs,can successfully take off using the gravity-assisted takeoff method.The scalability of cliff-drop method is analyzed through simulations.When drop constraints are absent,the wheel-driving motor mass fraction for cliff-drop method remains negligible even as the vehicle's weight increases.When drop constraints are set to 4 m,FWAVs heavier than KRoHawk,weighing up to 4.4 kg,can perform the cliff-drop takeoffs with a wheel-driving motor mass fraction of less than 8%.展开更多
Micro aerial platforms face significant challenges in achieving long controlled endurance as most of the energy is consumed to overcome the weight of the body.In this study,we present a controllable micro blimp that a...Micro aerial platforms face significant challenges in achieving long controlled endurance as most of the energy is consumed to overcome the weight of the body.In this study,we present a controllable micro blimp that addresses this issue through the use of a helium-filled balloon.The micro blimp has a long axis of 23 cm and is propelled by four insect-sized flapping-wing thrusters,each weighing 80 mg and with a wingspan of 3.5 cm.These distributed thrusters enable controlled motions and provide the micro blimp with an advantage in flight endurance compared to multirotors or flapping-wing micro aerial vehicles at the same size scale.To enhance the performance of the controlled flight,we propose a wireless control module that enables manipulation from a distance of up to 100 m.Additionally,a smartphone application is developed to send instructions to the circuit board,allowing the blimp to turn left and right,ascend and descend,and achieve a combination of these movements separately.Our findings demonstrate that this micro blimp is one of the smallest controlled self-powered micro blimps to date.展开更多
Micro/nanoplastics(M/NPs)have become pervasive environmental pollutants,posing significant risks to human health through various exposure routes,including ingestion,inhalation,and direct contact.This review systematic...Micro/nanoplastics(M/NPs)have become pervasive environmental pollutants,posing significant risks to human health through various exposure routes,including ingestion,inhalation,and direct contact.This review systematically examined the potential impacts of M/NPs on ocular health,focusing on exposure pathways,toxicological mechanisms,and resultant damage to the eye.Ocular exposure to M/NPs can occur via direct contact and oral ingestion,with the latter potentially leading to the penetration of particles through ocular biological barriers into ocular tissues.The review highlighted that M/NPs can induce adverse effects on the ocular surface,elevate intraocular pressure,and cause abnormalities in the vitreous and retina.Mechanistically,oxidative stress and inflammation are central to M/NP-induced ocular damage,with smaller particles often exhibiting greater toxicity.Overall,this review underscored the potential risks of M/NPs to ocular health and emphasized the need for further research to elucidate exposure mechanisms,toxicological pathways,and mitigation strategies.展开更多
基金Nguyen Tat Thanh University,Ho Chi Minh City,Vietnam for supporting this study。
文摘Wing design is a critical factor in the aerodynamic performance of flapping-wing(FW)robots.Inspired by the natural wing structures of insects,bats,and birds,we explored how bio-mimetic wing vein morphologies,combined with a bio-inspired double wing clap-and-fling mechanism,affect thrust generation.This study focused on increasing vertical force and payload capacity.Through systematic experimentation with various vein configurations and structural designs,we developed innovative wings optimized for thrust production.Comprehensive tests were conducted to measure aerodynamic forces,power consumption,and wing kinematics across a range of flapping frequencies.Additionally,wings with different aspect ratios,a key factor in wing design,were fabricated and extensively evaluated.The study also examined the role of bio-inspired vein layouts on wing flexibility,a critical component in improving flight efficiency.Our findings demonstrate that the newly developed wing design led to a 20%increase in thrust,achieving up to 30 g-force(gf).This research sheds light on the clap-and-fling effect and establishes a promising framework for bio-inspired wing design,offering significant improvements in both performance and payload capacity for FW robots.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(grant numbers 52305321 and 62273246)The Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province(BK20230496)+3 种基金China Postdoctoral Science Foundation Funded Project(2023M732536 and 2024T170630)Jiangsu Province Excellence Postdoctoral Program(2023ZB218)The National Key R&D Program of China(2022YFB4702202)The Jiangsu Provincial Key Technology R&D Program(BE2021009-02).
文摘Micro aerial vehicles(MAVs)have flexibility and maneuverability,which can offer vast potential for applications in both civilian and military domains.Compared to Fixed-wing/Rotor-wing MAVs,Flapping Wing Micro Robots(FWMRs)have garnered widespread attention among scientists due to their superior miniaturized aerodynamic theory,reduced noise,and enhanced resistance to disturbances in complex and diverse environments.Flying insects,it not only has remarkable flapping flight ability(wings),but also takeoff and landing habitat ability(legs).If the various functions of flying insects can be imitated,efficient biomimetic FWMRs can be produced.This paper provides a review of the flight kinematics,aerodynamics,and wing structural parameters of insects.Then,the traditional wings and folding wings of insect-inspired FWMRs were compared.The research progress in takeoff and landing of FWMRs was also summarized,and the future developments and challenges for insect-inspired FWMRs were discussed.
基金supported by the Scientific Research Innovation Capability Support Project for Young Faculty,China(No.ZYGXQNJSKYCXNLZCXM-D1)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52272384).
文摘Flapping-Wing Micro Air Vehicles(FMAVs)are compact and agile,capable of accessing narrow spaces that conventional vehicles struggle to reach,such as ruins,caves,or the interiors of complex structures,making them ideal tools for reconnaissance and rescue missions.1 However,the operation of FMAVs relies on coordinating multiple forces with different scaling effects,posing challenges to miniaturization design.
基金supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(61933001,62061160371)Joint Funds of Equipment Pre-Research and Ministry of Education of China(6141A02033339)Beijing Top Discipline for Artificial Intelligent Science and Engineering,University of Science and Technology Beijing。
文摘This paper studies the trajectory tracking problem of flapping-wing micro aerial vehicles(FWMAVs)in the longitudinal plane.First of all,the kinematics and dynamics of the FWMAV are established,wherein the aerodynamic force and torque generated by flapping wings and the tail wing are explicitly formulated with respect to the flapping frequency of the wings and the degree of tail wing inclination.To achieve autonomous tracking,an adaptive control scheme is proposed under the hierarchical framework.Specifically,a bounded position controller with hyperbolic tangent functions is designed to produce the desired aerodynamic force,and a pitch command is extracted from the designed position controller.Next,an adaptive attitude controller is designed to track the extracted pitch command,where a radial basis function neural network is introduced to approximate the unknown aerodynamic perturbation torque.Finally,the flapping frequency of the wings and the degree of tail wing inclination are calculated from the designed position and attitude controllers,respectively.In terms of Lyapunov's direct method,it is shown that the tracking errors are bounded and ultimately converge to a small neighborhood around the origin.Simulations are carried out to verify the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.11672022)。
文摘Topology optimization is an effective method to obtain a lightweight structure that meets the requirements of structural strength.Whether the optimization results meet the actual needs mainly depends on the accuracy of the material properties and the boundary conditions,especially for a tiny Flapping-wing Micro Aerial Vehicle(FMAV)transmission system manufactured by 3D printing.In this paper,experimental and numerical computation efforts were undertaken to gain a reliable topology optimization method for the bottom of the transmission system.First,the constitutive behavior of the ultraviolet(UV)curable resin used in fabrication was evaluated.Second,a numerical computation model describing further verified via experiments.Topology optimization modeling considering nonlinear factors,e.g.contact,friction and collision,was presented,and the optimization results were verified by both dynamic simulation and experiments.Finally,detailed discussions on different load cases and constraints were presented to clarify their effect on the optimization.Our methods and results presented in this paper may shed light on the lightweight design of a FMAV.
文摘The problem of flapping motion control of Micro Air Vehicles (MAVs) with flapping wings was studied in this paper.Based upon the knowledge of skeletal and muscular components of hummingbird, a dynamic model for flapping wing wasdeveloped.A control scheme inspired by human memory and learning concept was constructed for wing motion control ofMAVs.The salient feature of the proposed control lies in its capabilities to improve the control performance by learning fromexperience and observation on its current and past behaviors, without the need for system dynamic information.Furthermore,the overall control scheme has a fairly simple structure and demands little online computations, making it attractive for real-timeimplementation on MAVs.Both theoretical analysis and computer simulation confirms its effectiveness.
基金supported by Unmanned Vehicles Core Technology Research and Development Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea(NRF)Unmanned Vehicle Advanced Research Center(UVARC)funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT,the Republic of Korea(2020M3C1C1A01083415).
文摘Flapping-Wing Air Vehicles(FWAVs)have been developed to pursue the efficient,agile,and quiet flight of flying animals.However,unlike lightweight FWAVs capable of vertical takeoff,relatively heavy FWAVs face challenges in self-takeoff,which refers to taking off without both external device and energy input.In this study,a cliff-drop method is implemented for an independent takeoff of a heavy FWAV,relying solely on gravity.In the takeoff process using the cliff-drop method,the FWAV moves on the ground to a cliff edge using a wheel-driving motor and then descends from the cliff to achieve the necessary speed for flight.To demonstrate the cliff-drop method,the KAIST Robotic Hawk(KRoHawk)with a mass of 740 g and a wingspan of 120 cm is developed.The takeoff tests demonstrate that the KRoHawk,significantly heavier than the vertical-takeoff capable FWAVs,can successfully take off using the gravity-assisted takeoff method.The scalability of cliff-drop method is analyzed through simulations.When drop constraints are absent,the wheel-driving motor mass fraction for cliff-drop method remains negligible even as the vehicle's weight increases.When drop constraints are set to 4 m,FWAVs heavier than KRoHawk,weighing up to 4.4 kg,can perform the cliff-drop takeoffs with a wheel-driving motor mass fraction of less than 8%.
基金co-supported by the Beijing Natural Science Foundation,China(No.3232010)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.12002017)the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China 111 Project(No.B08009).
文摘Micro aerial platforms face significant challenges in achieving long controlled endurance as most of the energy is consumed to overcome the weight of the body.In this study,we present a controllable micro blimp that addresses this issue through the use of a helium-filled balloon.The micro blimp has a long axis of 23 cm and is propelled by four insect-sized flapping-wing thrusters,each weighing 80 mg and with a wingspan of 3.5 cm.These distributed thrusters enable controlled motions and provide the micro blimp with an advantage in flight endurance compared to multirotors or flapping-wing micro aerial vehicles at the same size scale.To enhance the performance of the controlled flight,we propose a wireless control module that enables manipulation from a distance of up to 100 m.Additionally,a smartphone application is developed to send instructions to the circuit board,allowing the blimp to turn left and right,ascend and descend,and achieve a combination of these movements separately.Our findings demonstrate that this micro blimp is one of the smallest controlled self-powered micro blimps to date.
基金Supported by the Guangdong Provincial Natural Science Foundation(No.2114050001527).
文摘Micro/nanoplastics(M/NPs)have become pervasive environmental pollutants,posing significant risks to human health through various exposure routes,including ingestion,inhalation,and direct contact.This review systematically examined the potential impacts of M/NPs on ocular health,focusing on exposure pathways,toxicological mechanisms,and resultant damage to the eye.Ocular exposure to M/NPs can occur via direct contact and oral ingestion,with the latter potentially leading to the penetration of particles through ocular biological barriers into ocular tissues.The review highlighted that M/NPs can induce adverse effects on the ocular surface,elevate intraocular pressure,and cause abnormalities in the vitreous and retina.Mechanistically,oxidative stress and inflammation are central to M/NP-induced ocular damage,with smaller particles often exhibiting greater toxicity.Overall,this review underscored the potential risks of M/NPs to ocular health and emphasized the need for further research to elucidate exposure mechanisms,toxicological pathways,and mitigation strategies.