Design and performance analysis of different cambered wings for flapping-wing aerial vehicles based on wind tunnel test
Robotic Intelligence and Automation
ISSN: 2754-6969
Article publication date: 15 July 2024
Issue publication date: 29 August 2024
Abstract
Purpose
Bionic flapping-wing aerial vehicles (FWAVs) mimic natural flyers to generate the lift and thrust, such as birds, bats and insects. As an important component of the FWAVs, the flapping wings are crucial for the flight performance. The aim of this paper is to study the effects of different wings on aerodynamic performance.
Design/methodology/approach
Inspired by the wings structure of birds, the authors design four cambered wings to analyze the effect of airfoils on the FWAVs aerodynamic performance. The authors design the motor-driven mechanism of flapping wings, and realize the control of flapping frequency. Combined with the wind tunnel equipment, the authors build the FWAVs force test platform to test the static and dynamic aerodynamic performance of different flapping wings under the state variables of flapping frequency, wind speed and inclined angle.
Findings
The results show that the aerodynamic performance of flapping wing with a camber of 20 mm is the best. Compared with flat wing, the average lift can be improved by 59.5%.
Originality/value
Different from the traditional flat wing design of FWAVs, different cambered flapping wings are given in this paper. The influence of airfoils on aerodynamic performance of FWAVs is analyzed and the optimal flapping wing is obtained.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Funding: This work was supported in part by Science, Technology & Innovation Project of Xiongan New Area under Grant 2023XAGG0062; in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (under Grants U2013201, 62225304, 62373045).
Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Citation
Zhao, M., He, W., He, X., Zhang, L. and Zhao, H. (2024), "Design and performance analysis of different cambered wings for flapping-wing aerial vehicles based on wind tunnel test", Robotic Intelligence and Automation, Vol. 44 No. 5, pp. 698-712. https://doi.org/10.1108/RIA-01-2024-0006
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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