Flapping Wing Vehicles: Numerical and Experimental Approach

By: Lung-Jieh Yang and Balasubramanian Esakki

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Synopsis: Flapping wing vehicles (FWVs) have unique flight characteristics and the successful flight of such a vehicle depends upon efficient design of the flapping mechanisms while keeping the minimum weight of the structure. Flapping Wing Vehicles: Numerical and Experimental Approach discusses design and kinematic analysis of various flapping wing mechanisms, measurement of flap angle/flapping frequency, and computational fluid dynamic analysis of motion characteristics including manufacturing techniques. The book also includes wind tunnel experiments, high-speed photographic analysis of aerodynamic performance, soap film visualization of 3D down washing, studies on the effect of wing rotation, figure-of-eight motion characteristics, and more. Features Covers all aspects of FWVs needed to design one and understand how and why it flies Explains related engineering practices including flapping mechanism design, kinematic analysis, materials, manufacturing, and aerodynamic performance measures using wind tunnel experiments Includes CFD analysis of 3D wing profile, formation flight of FWVs, and soap film visualization of flapping wings Discusses dynamics and image-based control of a group of ornithopters Explores indigenous PCB design for achieving altitude and attitude control This book is aimed at researchers and graduate students in mechatronics, materials, aerodynamics, robotics, biomimetics, vehicle design and MAV/UAV.