Flapping Wing Vehicles

Book excerpt: "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."--