We examine the fluid-mechanical interactions that occur between arrays of flapping wings when operating in close proximity at a moderate Reynolds number (Re≈100-1000). Pairs of flapping wings are oscillated sinusoidally at frequency f, amplitude θ_{M}, phase offset ϕ, and wing separation distance D^{*}, and outflow speed v^{*} is measured. At a fixed separation distance, v^{*} is sensitive to b...

Force measurements from experiments conducted in water on a flapping-and-pitching thin flat plate wing of semi-elliptic planform at low Reynolds numbers are reported. Time varying force data, measured using a force transducer, provide a means to understand the mechanisms that lead to enhanced performance observed in insect flight compared to fixed wing aerodynamics. Experimental uncertainties a...

Z-shaped folding wings have the potential to enhance flight performance of an aircraft, contingent upon its mission requirements. However, current scope research on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with primarily focuses analysis their structure and aeroelasticity-related vibrations. Computational fluid dynamics methods dynamic meshing are employed examine process wings. By comparing steady aero...

In this paper we carry out computational studies of three-dimensional flow over flapping wings. The problems we have investigated include, firstly, three-dimensonal simulation of flow over an extruded SD7003 airfoil in plunging motion at transitional Reynolds number and, secondly, flow over a pair of flapping rectangle wings with constant NACA0012 cross-sectional airfoil profile at low Reynolds...

Abslracl-In this a er we ex lore controllabilit in Wpping R ht for Micro Aeri8&hides (dAVs), inch-size rdo t s ca able oFautonomous Rght Differently from previous work, we focus on a MAV with very limited wmg kinematics and simple input control schemes. In particular, in the first part we show how an MAV provided with a pair of wings, each with a single de ree of freedom and assive rotation, ca...

Flapping-wing robotic platforms based on Dipteran insects have demonstrated lift to weight ratios greater than 1, but research into regulating the aerodynamic forces produced by their wings has largely focused on active wing trajectory control. In an alternate approach, a flapping-wing drivetrain design that passively balances aerodynamic drag torques is presented. A discussion of the dynamic p...

In this paper a framework for simulation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), oriented to rotary wings aerial vehicles, is presented. It allows UAVs simulation for stand-alone agent or multi-agent exchanging data in cooperative scenarios. The framework, based on modularity and stratification in different specialized layers, allows an easy switching from simulated to real environments, thus reduc...

The aerodynamic performance of hovering insects is largely explained by the presence of a stably attached leading edge vortex (LEV) on top of their wings. Although LEVs have been visualized on real, physically modeled, and simulated insects, the physical mechanisms responsible for their stability are poorly understood. To gain fundamental insight into LEV stability on flapping fly wings we expr...

Birds demonstrate that flapping-wing flight (FWF) is a versatile flight mode, compatible with hovering, forward flight and gliding to save energy. This extended flight domain would be especially useful on mini-UAVs. However, design is challenging because aerodynamic efficiency is conditioned by complex movements of the wings, and because many interactions exist between morphological (wing area,...