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A Modified Quasisteady Aerodynamic Model for a Sub-100 mg Insect-Inspired Flapping-Wing Robot
Chenyang Wang1, Weiping Zhang1, Junqi Hu1
1National Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Micro/Nano Fabrication, School of Electronic Information and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
Applied Bionics and Biomechanics
|January 11, 2021
Summary
A new aerodynamic model enhances understanding of insect-inspired flapping-wing robots. This model accurately predicts lift and rotation, crucial for developing control strategies for micro-robots.
Area of Science:
- Robotics
- Aerodynamics
- Bio-inspired Engineering
Background:
- Insect-inspired robots offer unique flight capabilities.
- Accurate aerodynamic modeling is essential for controlling micro-aerial vehicles.
- Previous models lacked comprehensive analysis of key aerodynamic forces.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a modified quasisteady aerodynamic model for a sub-100-milligram insect-inspired flapping-wing robot.
- To incorporate circulation, dissipation, added-mass, and inertial effects.
- To analyze the two-degree-of-freedom (2-DOF) wing dynamics and passive rotation.
Main Methods:
- Utilized blade-element theory for aerodynamic force and moment calculations.
- Employed binocular high-speed photography and a custom lift measurement system.
- Validated the model by comparing estimated and measured wing kinematics and lift.
Main Results:
- The proposed model demonstrated close agreement with experimental measurements.
- Analysis revealed passive rotation as the primary lift-generating factor.
- Calculated rotating kinematics correlated well with measured data across different input voltages.
Conclusions:
- The validated aerodynamic model provides accurate predictions for flapping-wing robot dynamics.
- The model aids in understanding the critical role of passive wing rotation in lift generation.
- This research facilitates the development of advanced control strategies for micro-robots.
