Bird-like flapping-wing vehicles with a high aspect ratio have the potential to fulfill missions given to micro air vehicles,such as high-altitude reconnaissance,surveillance,rescue,and bird group guidance,due to thei...Bird-like flapping-wing vehicles with a high aspect ratio have the potential to fulfill missions given to micro air vehicles,such as high-altitude reconnaissance,surveillance,rescue,and bird group guidance,due to their good loading and long endurance capacities.Biologists and aeronautical researchers have explored the mystery of avian flight and made efforts to reproduce flapping flight in bioinspired aircraft for decades.However,the cognitive depth from theory to practice is still very limited.The mechanism of generating sufficient lift and thrust during avian flight is still not fully understood.Moving wings with unique biological structures such as feathers make modeling,simulation,experimentation,and analysis much more difficult.This paper reviews the research progress on bird-like flapping wings from flight mechanisms to modeling.Commonly used numerical computing methods are briefly compared.The aeroelastic problems are also highlighted.The results of the investigation show that a leading-edge vortex can be found during avian flight.Its induction and maintenance may have a close relationship with wing configuration,kinematics and deformation.The present models of flapping wings are mainly two-dimensional airfoils or three-dimensional single root-jointed geometric plates,which still exhibit large differences from real bird wings.Aeroelasticity is encouraged to consider the nonignorable effect on aerodynamic performance due to large-scale nonlinear deformation.Introducing appropriate flexibility can improve the peak values and efficiencies of lift and thrust,but the detailed conclusions always have strong background dependence.展开更多
The lack of autonomous take-off and landing capabilities of bird-like flapping-wing aerial vehicles(BFAVs)seriously restricts their further development and application.Thus,combined with the current research results o...The lack of autonomous take-off and landing capabilities of bird-like flapping-wing aerial vehicles(BFAVs)seriously restricts their further development and application.Thus,combined with the current research results on the autonomous take-off and landing technology of unmanned aerial vehicles,four types of technologies are studied,including jumping take-off and landing technology,taxiing take-off and landing technology,gliding take-off and landing technology,and vertical take-off and landing(VTOL)technology.Based on the analytic hierarchy process(AHP)-comprehensive evaluation method,a fuzzy comprehensive evaluation model for the autonomous take-off and landing scheme of a BFAV is established,and four schemes are evaluated concretely.The results show that under the existing technical conditions,the hybrid layout VTOL scheme is the best.Furthermore,the detailed design and development of the prototype of a BFAV with a four-rotor hybrid layout are carried out,and the vehicle performance is tested.The results prove that through the four-rotor hybrid layout design,the BFAV has good autonomous take-off and landing abilities.The power consumption analysis shows that for a fixed-point reconnaissance mission,when the mission radius is less than 3.38 km,the VTOL type exhibits longer mission duration than the hand-launched type.展开更多
Through analyzing the motion characteristics of bird-like flapping flight, it is considered that the wing angular acceleration is equal to zero at the point of maximum angular speed. Thus, the flapping flight is equiv...Through analyzing the motion characteristics of bird-like flapping flight, it is considered that the wing angular acceleration is equal to zero at the point of maximum angular speed. Thus, the flapping flight is equivalent to a uniform rotating motion which can be analyzed by using the stream surface theory of turbomachinery during a micro period of time. In this article, the N-S equations of the motion are expanded in a non-orthogonal curvilinear coordinate system, and simplified on stream surfaces of the flapping flight model. By using stream function me- thod, the three-dimensional unsteady flow equations are simplified as a two-order partial differential equation with variable coefficients eventually and the equation＇s iterative solving method on S1 and $2 stream surfaces of the flapping flight model is presented. Through expanding the relatively steady equations of flapping flight at an arbitrary time point of a stroke on meridional plane of the flapping flight model, it can use a relatively steady mo- tion to approximate the real flapping flight at that time point, and analyze the flow stability influenced by the wing＇s flexibility. It can be seen that the wing flexibility is related to the higher pressurization capacity and the flow stability, and the pressurization capacity of flexible wing is proportional to the angular speed, angular distor- tion rate and radius square.展开更多
Modeling the dynamics of flapping wing aerial vehicle is challenging due to the complexity of aerodynamic effects and mechanical structures.The aim of this work is to develop an accurate dynamics model of flapping win...Modeling the dynamics of flapping wing aerial vehicle is challenging due to the complexity of aerodynamic effects and mechanical structures.The aim of this work is to develop an accurate dynamics model of flapping wing aerial vehicle based on real flight data.We propose a modeling framework that combines rigid body dynamics with a neural network to predict aerodynamic effects.By incorporating the concept of flapping phase,we significantly enhance the network’s ability to analyze transient aerodynamic behavior.We design and utilize a phase-functioned neural network structure for aerodynamic predictions and train the network using real flight data.Evaluation results show that the network can predict aerodynamic effects and demonstrate clear physical significance.We verify that the framework can be used for dynamic propagation and is expected to be utilized for building simulators for flapping wing aerial vehicles.展开更多
This paper presents a novel modelling method to study the thrust generation mechanism of biplane flapping wings made of thin and highly deformable membrane.Based on the principle of strain energy equivalence,the membr...This paper presents a novel modelling method to study the thrust generation mechanism of biplane flapping wings made of thin and highly deformable membrane.Based on the principle of strain energy equivalence,the membrane structures were modelled by mass-spring systems.The aerodynamic loads were calculated by a simplified quasi-steady aerodynamic model with consideration of the clap-and-fling mechanism.The impact force was introduced into the system when two wing surfaces were in contact.For wing-dynamics simulation problems,convergence analyses were conducted to obtain suitable mesh resolution.To validate the present modelling method,the predicted thrust and required power of a biplane flapping-wing air vehicle were compared with the experimental data.The effect of the forward speed was also analyzed in this paper.It was shown that as the forward speed increases the thrust production efficiency becomes lower together with smaller wing deformation.展开更多
Throughout the previous studies,none of them are involved in analysing the downwash flow effect on the control surface of the Flapping Wing Rotor(FWR).An overset CFD numerical model is built up and validated to study ...Throughout the previous studies,none of them are involved in analysing the downwash flow effect on the control surface of the Flapping Wing Rotor(FWR).An overset CFD numerical model is built up and validated to study the downwash flow’s effect on the stability of the FWR.After simulation,a cone like self-lock region which acts as the critical condition determining the stability of FWR is found.Only when the flow’s resultant velocity acting on the control surface lies in the stable region,the FWR can keep stable.The size of the cone like self-lock stable region can be enlarged by increasing the maximum feasible deflection angle constrained by mechanical design or enhancing the equivalent downwash flow velocity.Among all the simulated cases,when J=2.67(f=5 Hz,■=5 r/s),the largest average equivalent downwash flow velocities are found.On the other hand,the recovery torque could be enhanced due to the increase of the arm of the lateral force.According to these simulation results,a 43 g FWR model with two control surfaces and two stabilizers is then designed.A series of flight tests is then conducted to help confirm the conclusion of the mechanism research in this work.Overall,this study points out several strategies to increase the flight stability of the FWR and finally realizes the stable climb flight and mild descent flight of the FWR.展开更多
In this paper,we proposed a compact,lightweight flapping actuation mechanism and a flight control mechanism for a twin-winged,tailless,hover-capable flapping robot named HiFly-Hummingbird,which has a total mass of 14....In this paper,we proposed a compact,lightweight flapping actuation mechanism and a flight control mechanism for a twin-winged,tailless,hover-capable flapping robot named HiFly-Hummingbird,which has a total mass of 14.4 g and a wingspan of 18.8 cm.A four-bar linkage and gears set were adopted to convert the rotation motion of DC motor into flapping oscillation and amplify the flapping amplitude.As well as,a parallel coupled flight control mechanism was designed to implement the aerodynamic moments generation strategies.The proposed flapping actuation mechanism,with a mass of 2.95 g,has been validated to achieve a 168°amplitude at a frequency of 26 Hz with an asymmetrical stroke deviation of 3.5%,operating at a power consumption of 4.05 W.The parallel coupled control mechanism weights 2.14 g(including three servos).Benefit from the nonlinen inverse kinematics model of the parallel coupled control mechanism,the proposed control mechanism exhibits a roll motion range of±10°with an accuracy error of 0.8°and a pitch motion range of±12°with an accuracy error of 0.6°.The proposed mechanical systems are beneficial to lightweight design,manufacture and assemble under stringent size,weight and power(SWaP)constraints of flapping wing micro air vehicles(FW-MAVs),and possess favorable efficiency and accuracy.Relying on the hardware control circuit and feed-back attitude control algorithm,the robot hummingbird successfully achieved untethered lifting off and reached a maximum flight altitude of 4 m in several flight tests,demonstrating that the proposed mechanical designs of the flapping robot platform effectively enhances the miniaturization and light-weighting of the hummingbird-like FW-MAVs under the conditions of meeting the propulsion and control requirements for lifting off.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
Dear Editor,We present this case report which discusses a patient who underwent flap amputation after repeated attempts to resolve persistent and severe epithelial ingrowth following laser-assisted in situ keratomileu...Dear Editor,We present this case report which discusses a patient who underwent flap amputation after repeated attempts to resolve persistent and severe epithelial ingrowth following laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis(LASIK)surgery.Epithelial ingrowth is a known complication of LASIK surgery,typically manageable with minimal measures.However,severe cases may necessitate more aggressive interventions,such as flap amputation[1].LASIK is a widely performed refractive surgery with high success rates and excellent visual outcome[2].展开更多
This paper numerically studies the aerodynamic performance of a bird-like bionic flapping wing.The geometry and kinematics are designed based on a seagull wing,in which flapping,folding,swaying,and twisting are consid...This paper numerically studies the aerodynamic performance of a bird-like bionic flapping wing.The geometry and kinematics are designed based on a seagull wing,in which flapping,folding,swaying,and twisting are considered.An in-house unsteady flow solver based on hybrid moving grids.is adopted for unsteady flow simulations.We focus on two main issues in this study,i.e.,the influence of the proportion of down-stroke and the effect of span-wise twisting.Numerical results show that the proportion of downstroke is closely related to the efficiency of the flapping process.The preferable proportion is about 0.7 by using the present geometry and kinematic model,which is very close to the observed data.Another finding is that the drag and the power consumption can be greatly reduced by the proper span-wise twisting.Two cases with different reduced frequencies are simulated and compared with each other.The numerical results show that the power consumption reduces by more than 20%,and the drag coefficient reduces by more than 60% through a proper twisting motion for both cases.The flow mechanism is mainly due to controlling of unsteady flow separation by adjusting the local effective angle of attack.These conclusions will be helpful for the high-performance micro air vehicle (MAV) design.展开更多
We have examined the aerodynamic effects of corrugation in model wings that closely mimic the wing movements of a forward flight bumblebee using the method of computational fluid dynamics. Various corrugated wing mode...We have examined the aerodynamic effects of corrugation in model wings that closely mimic the wing movements of a forward flight bumblebee using the method of computational fluid dynamics. Various corrugated wing models were tested （care was taken to ensure that the corrugation introduced zero camber）. Advance ratio ranging from 0 to 0.57 was considered. The results shown that at all flight speeds considered, the time courses of aerodynamic force of the corrugated wing are very close to those of the flat-plate wing. The cornlgation decreases aerodynamic force slightly. The changes in the mean location of center of pressure in the spanwise and chordwise directions resulting from the corrugation are no more than 3% of the wing chord length. The possible reason for the small aerodynamic effects of wing corrugation is that the wing operates at a large angle of attack and the flow is separated： the large angle of incidence dominates the corrugation in determining the flow around the wing, and for separated flow, the flow is much less sensitive to wing shape variation.展开更多
A theoretical modeling approach as well as an unsteady analytical method is used to study aerodynamic characteristics of wing flapping with asymmetric stroke-cycles in connection with an oblique stroke plane during in...A theoretical modeling approach as well as an unsteady analytical method is used to study aerodynamic characteristics of wing flapping with asymmetric stroke-cycles in connection with an oblique stroke plane during insect forward flight. It is revealed that the aerodynamic asymmetry between the downstroke and the upstroke due to stroke-asymmetrical flapping is a key to understand the flow physics of generation and modulation of the lift and the thrust. Predicted results for examples of given kinematics validate more specifically some viewpoints that the wing lift is more easily produced when the forward speed is higher and the thrust is harder, and the lift and the thrust are generated mainly during downstroke and upstroke, respectively. The effects of three controlling parameters, i.e. the angles of tilted stroke plane, the different downstroke duration ratios, and the different angles of attack in both down- and up-stroke, are further discussed. It is found that larger oblique angles of stroke planes generate larger thrust but smaller lift; larger downstroke duration ratios lead to larger thrust, while making little change in lift and input aerodynamic power; and again, a small increase of the angle of attack in downstroke or upstroke may cause remarkable changes in aerodynamic performance in the relevant stroke.展开更多
This paper addresses mechanisms for active flapping and twisting of robotic wings and assesses flying effectiveness as a function of twist angle. Unlike the flapping motion of bird wings, insects generally make a twis...This paper addresses mechanisms for active flapping and twisting of robotic wings and assesses flying effectiveness as a function of twist angle. Unlike the flapping motion of bird wings, insects generally make a twisting motion at the root of their wings while flapping, which makes it possible for them to hover in midair. This work includes the development of a Voice Coil Motor （VCM） because a flapping-wing air vehicle should be assembled with a compact actuator to decrease size and weight. A linkage mechanism is proposed to transform the linear motion of the VCM into the flapping and twisting motions of wings. The assembled flapping-wing air vehicle, whose weight is 2.86 g, produces an average positive vertical force proportional to the twist angle. The force saturates because the twist angle is mechanically limited. This work demonstrates the possibility of developing a flapping-wing air vehicle that can hover in midair using a mechanism that actively twists the roots of wings during flapping.展开更多
Aerodynamic force and flow structures of two airfoils in a tandem configuration in flapping motions axe studied, by solving the Navier-Stokes equations in moving overset grids. Three typical phase differences between ...Aerodynamic force and flow structures of two airfoils in a tandem configuration in flapping motions axe studied, by solving the Navier-Stokes equations in moving overset grids. Three typical phase differences between the fore- and aft-airfoil flapping cycles are considered. It is shown that: (1) in the case of no interaction (single airfoil), the time average of the vertical force coefficient over the downstroke is 2.74, which is about 3 times as large as the maximum steady-state lift coefficient of a dragonfly wing; the time average of the horizontal force coefficient is 1.97, which is also large. The reasons for the large force coefficients are the acceleration at the beginning of a stroke, the delayed stall and the 'pitching-up' motion near the end of the stroke. (2) In the cases of two-airfoils, the time-variations of the force and moment coefficients on each airfoil are broadly similar to that of the single airfoil in that the vertical force is mainly produced in downstroke and the horizontal force in upstroke, but very large differences exist due to the interaction. (3) For in-phase stroking, the major differences caused by the interaction are that the vertical force on FA in downstroke is increased and the horizontal force on FA in upstroke decreased. As a result, the magnitude of the resultant force is almost unchanged but it inclines less forward. (4) For counter stroking, the major differences are that the vertical force on AA in downstroke and the horizontal force on FA in upstroke are decreased. As a result, the magnitude of the resultant force is decreased by about 20 percent but its direction is almost unchanged. (5) For 90 degrees -phase-difference stroking, the major differences axe that the vertical force on AA in downstroke and the horizontal force on FA in upstroke axe decreased greatly and the horizontal force on AA in upstroke increased. As a result, the magnitude of the resultant force is decreased by about 28% and it inclines more forward. (6) Among the three cases of phase angles, inphase flapping produces the largest vertical force (also the largest resultant force); the 90 degrees -phase-difference flapping results in the largest horizontal force, but the smallest resultant force.展开更多
The application of biomimetics in the development of unmanned-aerial-vehicles （UAV） has advanced to an exceptionally small scale of nano-aerial-vehicles （NAV）, which has surpassed its immediate predecessor of micr...The application of biomimetics in the development of unmanned-aerial-vehicles （UAV） has advanced to an exceptionally small scale of nano-aerial-vehicles （NAV）, which has surpassed its immediate predecessor of micro-aerial-vehicles （MAV）, leaving a vast range of development possi- bilities that MAVs have to offer. Because of the prompt advancement into the NAV research devel- opment, the true potential and challenges presented by MAV development were never solved, understood, and truly uncovered, especially under the influence of transition and low Reynolds number flow characteristics. This paper reviews a part of previous MAV research developments which are deemed important of notification; kinematics, membranes, and flapping mechanisms ranges from small birds to big insects, which resides within the transition and low Reynolds number regimes. This paper also reviews the possibility of applying a piezoelectric transmission used to pro- duce NAV flapping wing motion and mounted on a MAV, replacing the conventional motorized flapping wing transmission. Findings suggest that limited work has been done for MAVs matching these criteria. The preferred research approach has seen bias towards numerical analysis as compared to experimental analysis.展开更多
The dynamic performance and wake structure of flapping plates with different shapes were studied using multi-block lattice Boltzman and immersed boundary method.Two typical regimes relevant to thrust behavior are iden...The dynamic performance and wake structure of flapping plates with different shapes were studied using multi-block lattice Boltzman and immersed boundary method.Two typical regimes relevant to thrust behavior are identified.One is nonlinear relation between the thrust and the area moment of plate for lower area moment region and the other is linear relation for larger area moment region.The tendency of the power variation with the area moment is reasonably similar to the thrust behavior and the efficiency decreases gradually as the area moment increases.As the mechanism of the dynamic properties is associated with the evolution of vortical structures around the plate,the formation and evolution of vortical structures are investigated and the effects of the plate shape,plate area,Strouhal number and Reynolds number on the vortical structures are analyzed.The results obtained in this study provide physical insight into the understanding of the mechanisms relevant to flapping locomotion.展开更多
Flapping-powered propulsion is used by many animals to locomote through air or water. Here we review recent experimental and numerical studies on self-propelled mechanical systems powered by a flapping motion. These s...Flapping-powered propulsion is used by many animals to locomote through air or water. Here we review recent experimental and numerical studies on self-propelled mechanical systems powered by a flapping motion. These studies improve our understanding of the mutual interaction between actively flapping bodies and surrounding fluids. The results obtained in these works provide not only new insights into biolocomotion but also useful information for the biomimetic design of artificial flyers and swimmers.展开更多
Spanwise flexibility is a key factor influencing propulsion performance of pectoral foils. Performances of bionic fish with oscillating pectoral foils can be enhanced by properly selecting the spanwise flexibility. Th...Spanwise flexibility is a key factor influencing propulsion performance of pectoral foils. Performances of bionic fish with oscillating pectoral foils can be enhanced by properly selecting the spanwise flexibility. The influence law of spanwise flexibility on thrust generation and propulsion efficiency of a rectangular hydro-foil is discussed. Series foils constructed by the two-component silicon rubber are developed. NACA0015 shape of chordwise cross-section is employed. The foils are strengthened by fin rays of different rigidity to realize variant spanwise rigidity and almost the same chordwise flexibility. Experiments on a towing platform developed are carried out at low Reynolds numbers of 10 000, 15 000, and 20 000 and Strouhal numbers from 0.1 to 1. The following experimental results are achieved: (1) The average forward thrust increases with the St number increased; (2) Certain degree of spanwise flexibility is beneficial to the forward thrust generation, but the thrust gap is not large for the fins of different spanwise rigidity; (3) The fin of the maximal spanwise flexibility owns the highest propulsion efficiency; (4) Effect of the Reynolds number on the propulsion efficiency is significant. The experimental results can be utilized as a reference in deciding the spanwise flexibility of bionic pectoral fins in designing of robotic fish prototype propelled by flapping-wing.展开更多
文摘Bird-like flapping-wing vehicles with a high aspect ratio have the potential to fulfill missions given to micro air vehicles,such as high-altitude reconnaissance,surveillance,rescue,and bird group guidance,due to their good loading and long endurance capacities.Biologists and aeronautical researchers have explored the mystery of avian flight and made efforts to reproduce flapping flight in bioinspired aircraft for decades.However,the cognitive depth from theory to practice is still very limited.The mechanism of generating sufficient lift and thrust during avian flight is still not fully understood.Moving wings with unique biological structures such as feathers make modeling,simulation,experimentation,and analysis much more difficult.This paper reviews the research progress on bird-like flapping wings from flight mechanisms to modeling.Commonly used numerical computing methods are briefly compared.The aeroelastic problems are also highlighted.The results of the investigation show that a leading-edge vortex can be found during avian flight.Its induction and maintenance may have a close relationship with wing configuration,kinematics and deformation.The present models of flapping wings are mainly two-dimensional airfoils or three-dimensional single root-jointed geometric plates,which still exhibit large differences from real bird wings.Aeroelasticity is encouraged to consider the nonignorable effect on aerodynamic performance due to large-scale nonlinear deformation.Introducing appropriate flexibility can improve the peak values and efficiencies of lift and thrust,but the detailed conclusions always have strong background dependence.
基金supported in part by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(No.2017YFB1300102)the Key R&D Program in Shaanxi Province of China(No.2020ZDLGY06-05,No 2021ZDLGY09-10)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.11902103,No.11872314).
文摘The lack of autonomous take-off and landing capabilities of bird-like flapping-wing aerial vehicles(BFAVs)seriously restricts their further development and application.Thus,combined with the current research results on the autonomous take-off and landing technology of unmanned aerial vehicles,four types of technologies are studied,including jumping take-off and landing technology,taxiing take-off and landing technology,gliding take-off and landing technology,and vertical take-off and landing(VTOL)technology.Based on the analytic hierarchy process(AHP)-comprehensive evaluation method,a fuzzy comprehensive evaluation model for the autonomous take-off and landing scheme of a BFAV is established,and four schemes are evaluated concretely.The results show that under the existing technical conditions,the hybrid layout VTOL scheme is the best.Furthermore,the detailed design and development of the prototype of a BFAV with a four-rotor hybrid layout are carried out,and the vehicle performance is tested.The results prove that through the four-rotor hybrid layout design,the BFAV has good autonomous take-off and landing abilities.The power consumption analysis shows that for a fixed-point reconnaissance mission,when the mission radius is less than 3.38 km,the VTOL type exhibits longer mission duration than the hand-launched type.
文摘Through analyzing the motion characteristics of bird-like flapping flight, it is considered that the wing angular acceleration is equal to zero at the point of maximum angular speed. Thus, the flapping flight is equivalent to a uniform rotating motion which can be analyzed by using the stream surface theory of turbomachinery during a micro period of time. In this article, the N-S equations of the motion are expanded in a non-orthogonal curvilinear coordinate system, and simplified on stream surfaces of the flapping flight model. By using stream function me- thod, the three-dimensional unsteady flow equations are simplified as a two-order partial differential equation with variable coefficients eventually and the equation＇s iterative solving method on S1 and $2 stream surfaces of the flapping flight model is presented. Through expanding the relatively steady equations of flapping flight at an arbitrary time point of a stroke on meridional plane of the flapping flight model, it can use a relatively steady mo- tion to approximate the real flapping flight at that time point, and analyze the flow stability influenced by the wing＇s flexibility. It can be seen that the wing flexibility is related to the higher pressurization capacity and the flow stability, and the pressurization capacity of flexible wing is proportional to the angular speed, angular distor- tion rate and radius square.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant No.62236007the specialized research projects of Huanjiang Laboratory.
文摘Modeling the dynamics of flapping wing aerial vehicle is challenging due to the complexity of aerodynamic effects and mechanical structures.The aim of this work is to develop an accurate dynamics model of flapping wing aerial vehicle based on real flight data.We propose a modeling framework that combines rigid body dynamics with a neural network to predict aerodynamic effects.By incorporating the concept of flapping phase,we significantly enhance the network’s ability to analyze transient aerodynamic behavior.We design and utilize a phase-functioned neural network structure for aerodynamic predictions and train the network using real flight data.Evaluation results show that the network can predict aerodynamic effects and demonstrate clear physical significance.We verify that the framework can be used for dynamic propagation and is expected to be utilized for building simulators for flapping wing aerial vehicles.
基金funded by Vietnam National Foundation for Science and Technology Development(NAFOSTED)(Grant No.107.01-2021.39).
文摘This paper presents a novel modelling method to study the thrust generation mechanism of biplane flapping wings made of thin and highly deformable membrane.Based on the principle of strain energy equivalence,the membrane structures were modelled by mass-spring systems.The aerodynamic loads were calculated by a simplified quasi-steady aerodynamic model with consideration of the clap-and-fling mechanism.The impact force was introduced into the system when two wing surfaces were in contact.For wing-dynamics simulation problems,convergence analyses were conducted to obtain suitable mesh resolution.To validate the present modelling method,the predicted thrust and required power of a biplane flapping-wing air vehicle were compared with the experimental data.The effect of the forward speed was also analyzed in this paper.It was shown that as the forward speed increases the thrust production efficiency becomes lower together with smaller wing deformation.
基金supported by the following funding organizations in China:National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.52375116 and Grant No.52105285)the Aeronautical Science Foundation of China(Grant No.ASFC-20230023052001)+3 种基金China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(Grant No.2024M754237)National Key Research and Development Program of China(2024YFB470920001)Science and Technology Plan Project of Wenzhou Municipality(Grant No.ZG2024001)Basic Public Welfare Research Program of Wenzhou(Grant No.G2023046).
文摘Throughout the previous studies,none of them are involved in analysing the downwash flow effect on the control surface of the Flapping Wing Rotor(FWR).An overset CFD numerical model is built up and validated to study the downwash flow’s effect on the stability of the FWR.After simulation,a cone like self-lock region which acts as the critical condition determining the stability of FWR is found.Only when the flow’s resultant velocity acting on the control surface lies in the stable region,the FWR can keep stable.The size of the cone like self-lock stable region can be enlarged by increasing the maximum feasible deflection angle constrained by mechanical design or enhancing the equivalent downwash flow velocity.Among all the simulated cases,when J=2.67(f=5 Hz,■=5 r/s),the largest average equivalent downwash flow velocities are found.On the other hand,the recovery torque could be enhanced due to the increase of the arm of the lateral force.According to these simulation results,a 43 g FWR model with two control surfaces and two stabilizers is then designed.A series of flight tests is then conducted to help confirm the conclusion of the mechanism research in this work.Overall,this study points out several strategies to increase the flight stability of the FWR and finally realizes the stable climb flight and mild descent flight of the FWR.
基金supported by the Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences under Grant XDA2202050partially supported by the Youth Innovation Promotion Association of Chinese Academy of Sciences under Grant 2013213.
文摘In this paper,we proposed a compact,lightweight flapping actuation mechanism and a flight control mechanism for a twin-winged,tailless,hover-capable flapping robot named HiFly-Hummingbird,which has a total mass of 14.4 g and a wingspan of 18.8 cm.A four-bar linkage and gears set were adopted to convert the rotation motion of DC motor into flapping oscillation and amplify the flapping amplitude.As well as,a parallel coupled flight control mechanism was designed to implement the aerodynamic moments generation strategies.The proposed flapping actuation mechanism,with a mass of 2.95 g,has been validated to achieve a 168°amplitude at a frequency of 26 Hz with an asymmetrical stroke deviation of 3.5%,operating at a power consumption of 4.05 W.The parallel coupled control mechanism weights 2.14 g(including three servos).Benefit from the nonlinen inverse kinematics model of the parallel coupled control mechanism,the proposed control mechanism exhibits a roll motion range of±10°with an accuracy error of 0.8°and a pitch motion range of±12°with an accuracy error of 0.6°.The proposed mechanical systems are beneficial to lightweight design,manufacture and assemble under stringent size,weight and power(SWaP)constraints of flapping wing micro air vehicles(FW-MAVs),and possess favorable efficiency and accuracy.Relying on the hardware control circuit and feed-back attitude control algorithm,the robot hummingbird successfully achieved untethered lifting off and reached a maximum flight altitude of 4 m in several flight tests,demonstrating that the proposed mechanical designs of the flapping robot platform effectively enhances the miniaturization and light-weighting of the hummingbird-like FW-MAVs under the conditions of meeting the propulsion and control requirements for lifting off.
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.
文摘Dear Editor,We present this case report which discusses a patient who underwent flap amputation after repeated attempts to resolve persistent and severe epithelial ingrowth following laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis(LASIK)surgery.Epithelial ingrowth is a known complication of LASIK surgery,typically manageable with minimal measures.However,severe cases may necessitate more aggressive interventions,such as flap amputation[1].LASIK is a widely performed refractive surgery with high success rates and excellent visual outcome[2].
基金Project supported by the National Key Research and Development Program(No.2016YFB0200700)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.11532016 and 11672324)
文摘This paper numerically studies the aerodynamic performance of a bird-like bionic flapping wing.The geometry and kinematics are designed based on a seagull wing,in which flapping,folding,swaying,and twisting are considered.An in-house unsteady flow solver based on hybrid moving grids.is adopted for unsteady flow simulations.We focus on two main issues in this study,i.e.,the influence of the proportion of down-stroke and the effect of span-wise twisting.Numerical results show that the proportion of downstroke is closely related to the efficiency of the flapping process.The preferable proportion is about 0.7 by using the present geometry and kinematic model,which is very close to the observed data.Another finding is that the drag and the power consumption can be greatly reduced by the proper span-wise twisting.Two cases with different reduced frequencies are simulated and compared with each other.The numerical results show that the power consumption reduces by more than 20%,and the drag coefficient reduces by more than 60% through a proper twisting motion for both cases.The flow mechanism is mainly due to controlling of unsteady flow separation by adjusting the local effective angle of attack.These conclusions will be helpful for the high-performance micro air vehicle (MAV) design.
基金Acknowledgement This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China （Grant No. 10732030） and the 111 Project （B07009）.
文摘We have examined the aerodynamic effects of corrugation in model wings that closely mimic the wing movements of a forward flight bumblebee using the method of computational fluid dynamics. Various corrugated wing models were tested （care was taken to ensure that the corrugation introduced zero camber）. Advance ratio ranging from 0 to 0.57 was considered. The results shown that at all flight speeds considered, the time courses of aerodynamic force of the corrugated wing are very close to those of the flat-plate wing. The cornlgation decreases aerodynamic force slightly. The changes in the mean location of center of pressure in the spanwise and chordwise directions resulting from the corrugation are no more than 3% of the wing chord length. The possible reason for the small aerodynamic effects of wing corrugation is that the wing operates at a large angle of attack and the flow is separated： the large angle of incidence dominates the corrugation in determining the flow around the wing, and for separated flow, the flow is much less sensitive to wing shape variation.
基金The project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(10072066,90305009) the Chinese Academy of Sciences(KJCX-SW-L04,KJCX2-SW-L2)
文摘A theoretical modeling approach as well as an unsteady analytical method is used to study aerodynamic characteristics of wing flapping with asymmetric stroke-cycles in connection with an oblique stroke plane during insect forward flight. It is revealed that the aerodynamic asymmetry between the downstroke and the upstroke due to stroke-asymmetrical flapping is a key to understand the flow physics of generation and modulation of the lift and the thrust. Predicted results for examples of given kinematics validate more specifically some viewpoints that the wing lift is more easily produced when the forward speed is higher and the thrust is harder, and the lift and the thrust are generated mainly during downstroke and upstroke, respectively. The effects of three controlling parameters, i.e. the angles of tilted stroke plane, the different downstroke duration ratios, and the different angles of attack in both down- and up-stroke, are further discussed. It is found that larger oblique angles of stroke planes generate larger thrust but smaller lift; larger downstroke duration ratios lead to larger thrust, while making little change in lift and input aerodynamic power; and again, a small increase of the angle of attack in downstroke or upstroke may cause remarkable changes in aerodynamic performance in the relevant stroke.
文摘This paper addresses mechanisms for active flapping and twisting of robotic wings and assesses flying effectiveness as a function of twist angle. Unlike the flapping motion of bird wings, insects generally make a twisting motion at the root of their wings while flapping, which makes it possible for them to hover in midair. This work includes the development of a Voice Coil Motor （VCM） because a flapping-wing air vehicle should be assembled with a compact actuator to decrease size and weight. A linkage mechanism is proposed to transform the linear motion of the VCM into the flapping and twisting motions of wings. The assembled flapping-wing air vehicle, whose weight is 2.86 g, produces an average positive vertical force proportional to the twist angle. The force saturates because the twist angle is mechanically limited. This work demonstrates the possibility of developing a flapping-wing air vehicle that can hover in midair using a mechanism that actively twists the roots of wings during flapping.
文摘Aerodynamic force and flow structures of two airfoils in a tandem configuration in flapping motions axe studied, by solving the Navier-Stokes equations in moving overset grids. Three typical phase differences between the fore- and aft-airfoil flapping cycles are considered. It is shown that: (1) in the case of no interaction (single airfoil), the time average of the vertical force coefficient over the downstroke is 2.74, which is about 3 times as large as the maximum steady-state lift coefficient of a dragonfly wing; the time average of the horizontal force coefficient is 1.97, which is also large. The reasons for the large force coefficients are the acceleration at the beginning of a stroke, the delayed stall and the 'pitching-up' motion near the end of the stroke. (2) In the cases of two-airfoils, the time-variations of the force and moment coefficients on each airfoil are broadly similar to that of the single airfoil in that the vertical force is mainly produced in downstroke and the horizontal force in upstroke, but very large differences exist due to the interaction. (3) For in-phase stroking, the major differences caused by the interaction are that the vertical force on FA in downstroke is increased and the horizontal force on FA in upstroke decreased. As a result, the magnitude of the resultant force is almost unchanged but it inclines less forward. (4) For counter stroking, the major differences are that the vertical force on AA in downstroke and the horizontal force on FA in upstroke are decreased. As a result, the magnitude of the resultant force is decreased by about 20 percent but its direction is almost unchanged. (5) For 90 degrees -phase-difference stroking, the major differences axe that the vertical force on AA in downstroke and the horizontal force on FA in upstroke axe decreased greatly and the horizontal force on AA in upstroke increased. As a result, the magnitude of the resultant force is decreased by about 28% and it inclines more forward. (6) Among the three cases of phase angles, inphase flapping produces the largest vertical force (also the largest resultant force); the 90 degrees -phase-difference flapping results in the largest horizontal force, but the smallest resultant force.
文摘The application of biomimetics in the development of unmanned-aerial-vehicles （UAV） has advanced to an exceptionally small scale of nano-aerial-vehicles （NAV）, which has surpassed its immediate predecessor of micro-aerial-vehicles （MAV）, leaving a vast range of development possi- bilities that MAVs have to offer. Because of the prompt advancement into the NAV research devel- opment, the true potential and challenges presented by MAV development were never solved, understood, and truly uncovered, especially under the influence of transition and low Reynolds number flow characteristics. This paper reviews a part of previous MAV research developments which are deemed important of notification; kinematics, membranes, and flapping mechanisms ranges from small birds to big insects, which resides within the transition and low Reynolds number regimes. This paper also reviews the possibility of applying a piezoelectric transmission used to pro- duce NAV flapping wing motion and mounted on a MAV, replacing the conventional motorized flapping wing transmission. Findings suggest that limited work has been done for MAVs matching these criteria. The preferred research approach has seen bias towards numerical analysis as compared to experimental analysis.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(11372304 and 11132010)the 111 Project(B07033)
文摘The dynamic performance and wake structure of flapping plates with different shapes were studied using multi-block lattice Boltzman and immersed boundary method.Two typical regimes relevant to thrust behavior are identified.One is nonlinear relation between the thrust and the area moment of plate for lower area moment region and the other is linear relation for larger area moment region.The tendency of the power variation with the area moment is reasonably similar to the thrust behavior and the efficiency decreases gradually as the area moment increases.As the mechanism of the dynamic properties is associated with the evolution of vortical structures around the plate,the formation and evolution of vortical structures are investigated and the effects of the plate shape,plate area,Strouhal number and Reynolds number on the vortical structures are analyzed.The results obtained in this study provide physical insight into the understanding of the mechanisms relevant to flapping locomotion.
基金supported by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grants KJCX-SW-L08, KJCX3-SYW-S01)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grants 11021262, 11023001, 11232011, 11372331)
文摘Flapping-powered propulsion is used by many animals to locomote through air or water. Here we review recent experimental and numerical studies on self-propelled mechanical systems powered by a flapping motion. These studies improve our understanding of the mutual interaction between actively flapping bodies and surrounding fluids. The results obtained in these works provide not only new insights into biolocomotion but also useful information for the biomimetic design of artificial flyers and swimmers.
基金supported by National Hi-tech Research and Development Program of China(863 Program, Grant No. 2006AA04Z252)National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No. 51005006)+1 种基金Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education of China(Grand No. 20101102110022)Innovation Foundation of Beihang University for PhD Graduates, China
文摘Spanwise flexibility is a key factor influencing propulsion performance of pectoral foils. Performances of bionic fish with oscillating pectoral foils can be enhanced by properly selecting the spanwise flexibility. The influence law of spanwise flexibility on thrust generation and propulsion efficiency of a rectangular hydro-foil is discussed. Series foils constructed by the two-component silicon rubber are developed. NACA0015 shape of chordwise cross-section is employed. The foils are strengthened by fin rays of different rigidity to realize variant spanwise rigidity and almost the same chordwise flexibility. Experiments on a towing platform developed are carried out at low Reynolds numbers of 10 000, 15 000, and 20 000 and Strouhal numbers from 0.1 to 1. The following experimental results are achieved: (1) The average forward thrust increases with the St number increased; (2) Certain degree of spanwise flexibility is beneficial to the forward thrust generation, but the thrust gap is not large for the fins of different spanwise rigidity; (3) The fin of the maximal spanwise flexibility owns the highest propulsion efficiency; (4) Effect of the Reynolds number on the propulsion efficiency is significant. The experimental results can be utilized as a reference in deciding the spanwise flexibility of bionic pectoral fins in designing of robotic fish prototype propelled by flapping-wing.
