Date of Graduation
5-2013
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Degree Level
Undergraduate
Department
Mechanical Engineering
Advisor/Mentor
Huang, Po-Huang Adam
Committee Member/Reader
Roe, Larry A.
Abstract
In recent years, the promising nature of flapping wing flight has led researchers to investigate the wing morphology and unsteady wing aerodynamics found in insects to aid in the design of modern micro air vehicles (MAVs). A high-fidelity flapping wing MAV could achieve high mobility, hovering stability, increased stealth, and efficient flight at low speeds. These characteristics offer a viable solution to the operational requirements for the typical hazardous and dynamic environments encountered during flight. While the kinematics and morphology of flapping wings are well-understood, significant research has yet to be completed with respect to the control and power requirements necessary for reliable and repeatable operation in the transient conditions encountered during MAV flight. This paper explores initial experiments designed to test the power consumption necessary to maintain several wing beat frequencies at a variety of angles of attack and heading angles of a flapping wing MAV under simulated gust excitations. The test results will be used to quantify the performance of flapping wing flight as a function of various gust speeds and to aid in the design and evaluation of future models.
Citation
Hiller, B. (2013). Design and Construction of an Experiment for the Investigation of the Effects of Gust on Flapping Wing Micro Air Vehicle Power Consumption. Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/meeguht/1