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Two-Dimensional Aerodynamic Models of Insect Flight for Robotic Flapping Wing Mechanisms of Maximum Efficiency

Thien-Tong Nguyen, Doyoung Byun

Abstract


The mechanisms of lift enhancement in insect flight have been investigated experimentally and numerically to find some simple but efficient flapping wing mechanisms for robotic applications. In the ‘modified quasi-steady’ approach, two-dimensional aerodynamic models of these flapping wing motions are analyzed with focus on different types of rotation and the wing’s rotation axis to explain the force peak at the end of each half stroke. In this model, an additional velocity of the mid chord position due to rotation is superimposed to the translational relative velocity of air with respect to the wing. This modification produces augmented forces at the end of each stroke. For each case of the flapping wing motions with various combination of controlled translational and rotational velocity of the wing along inclined stroke planes with thin figure-eight trajectory, discussions focus on lift-drag evolution during one stroke cycle. Having presented detailed comparisons between these cases, some simple and efficient flapping wing mechanisms are suggested for robotic applications.

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References


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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.21535%2FProICIUS.2007.v3.605

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