Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 12, 2025
06:00
Electroantennography-based Bio-hybrid Odor-detecting Drone using Silkmoth Antennae for Odor Source Localization
Published on: August 27, 2021
5.2K
CGull: A Non-Flapping Bioinspired Composite Morphing Drone
Peter L Bishay1, Alex Rini1, Moises Brambila1
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, California State University, Northridge, CA 91330, USA.
Biomimetics (Basel, Switzerland)
|September 27, 2024
Summary
Inspired by seagulls, the CGull unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) uses wing and tail morphing for efficient flight control. This bio-inspired design mimics bird flight, enhancing maneuverability without traditional thrust vector control (TVC).
Area of Science:
- Aerospace Engineering
- Biomimetics
- Robotics
Background:
- Modern aircraft, despite advancements, do not fully utilize bird flight characteristics for efficiency and maneuverability.
- Birds exhibit remarkable flight control in gusty conditions and rapid momentum changes without advanced thrust vector control (TVC) systems.
- Expert gliding birds like vultures and seagulls can cover vast distances with minimal flapping.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and develop a non-flapping unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) inspired by the Great Black-Backed Gull (GBBG).
- To incorporate wing and tail morphing capabilities for enhanced flight control and maneuverability.
- To investigate the effectiveness of bio-inspired morphing mechanisms in UAV design.
Main Methods:
- Developed the 'CGull' UAV with coupled two degree-of-freedom (DOF) morphing mechanisms for wings and tail.
- Wing morphing sweeps the middle wing forward and outer wing backward, mimicking GBBG wing deformation.
- A computational model in MachUpX analyzed the effects of morphing on aerodynamic forces and moments; the structure uses carbon-fiber composite shells.
Main Results:
- The computational model demonstrated the impact of wing and tail morphing on aerodynamic performance.
- The structure, inspired by bird bone and feather construction, utilizes carbon-fiber composite shells.
- Flight tests of the proof-of-concept physical model validated the effectiveness of the morphing mechanisms.
Conclusions:
- The CGull UAV's morphing mechanisms successfully replicate bird flight characteristics for control.
- Bio-inspired morphing offers a novel approach to enhance UAV maneuverability and efficiency.
- The study proves the viability of non-flapping, morphing wing designs for future aircraft.
Related Concept Videos
01:05Mechanism of Ciliary Motion
3.6K
The ciliary structures were first seen in 1647 by Antonie Leeuwenhoek while observing the protozoans. In lower organisms, these appendages are responsible for cell movement, while in higher organisms, these appendages help in the movement of the extracellular fluids within the body cavities.
The cilia are made up of microtubules in a 9+2 arrangement, with nine microtubule doublet ring bundles, surrounding a pair of central singlet microtubule bundles. The doublet microtubule bundles are...
The cilia are made up of microtubules in a 9+2 arrangement, with nine microtubule doublet ring bundles, surrounding a pair of central singlet microtubule bundles. The doublet microtubule bundles are...
3.6K
01:11Design Example: Forces in Sluice Gate
391
In hydraulic engineering, sluice gates are essential for managing water flow through channels, reservoirs, and irrigation systems. Sluice gates, acting as vertical barriers, regulate water by adjusting the gate's opening height, which changes the velocity and pressure of water flowing beneath the gate. Understanding the forces involved is crucial to designing sluice gates that can withstand dynamic pressure differences, especially when the gate is closed or partially open.
Key variables in...
Key variables in...
391
01:21Design Example: Creating a Hydraulic Model of a Dam Spillway
137
Scaled hydraulic models of dam spillways provide a practical way to replicate and study the intricate flow dynamics of these structures. Often built to a 1:15 ratio, these models allow for observing critical water behavior, such as velocity distribution, flow patterns, and energy dissipation.
137
01:11Buoyancy and Stability for Submerged and Floating Bodies
1.5K
In fluid mechanics, buoyancy and stability are key concepts for understanding the behavior of submerged and floating bodies. When a stationary body is fully or partially submerged in a fluid, the fluid exerts a force on the body known as the buoyant force. This force acts vertically upward through a point called the center of buoyancy, which is the center of the displaced fluid volume. According to Archimedes' principle, the magnitude of the buoyant force is equal to the weight of the fluid...
1.5K
01:17Steady, Laminar Flow Between Parallel Plates
148
Understanding steady, laminar flow between parallel plates is essential for analyzing and designing flow in narrow rectangular channels, commonly found in various water conveyance and drainage systems. The Navier-Stokes equations govern fluid motion and are generally challenging to solve due to their nonlinearity. However, simplifications are possible in certain cases, like the steady laminar flow between parallel plates. For this scenario, we assume steady, incompressible, laminar flow.
148
00:55Composite Bodies
1.0K
A composite body is a body made up of multiple parts, connected to form a larger, unified object. Each part has its own weight and center of gravity, which must be considered to determine the center of gravity of the composite body. In cases where the density or specific weight is constant, the center of gravity coincides with the centroid.
Composite bodies have widespread applications in mechanical engineering, from automobiles to aircraft to rockets. For example, an automobile wheel comprises...
Composite bodies have widespread applications in mechanical engineering, from automobiles to aircraft to rockets. For example, an automobile wheel comprises...
1.0K