Effect of design parameters on power requirements in insect-liking flapping-wing micro-air-vechicle

• 1、School of Transportation Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191

Abstract：The effect of flapping wing motion and geometry parameters on power requirements in insect-liking micro-air-vechicle (MAV) is studied by computational fluid dynamics (CFD). It is shown aerodynamic power requirements and total power requirements increase significantly as the angle of attack, amplitude and frequency of flapping wing increase in hovering. Furthermore, the average total power requirements is proportional to the square of amplitude and cubic of frequency, respectively. The wing moment of inertia varies with the material and makes the total power requirements changed. The thickness of airfoil changes the moment of inertia and inertia power requirements, it causes total power requirements changed significant combined with aerodynamic power requirements. After wing aspect ratio becomes large, total power requirements increase mainly due to aerodynamic power requirements. The effect of rotation time and mode and axis positon are not important from the power requirements point of view. According to the design and size limitation, the appropriate angle of attack, amplitude and frequency, thinner airfoil with greater aspect ratio, lighter material and power storage device can make the aircraft system consume less power requirements with better aerodynamic characteristics and the capable of continuous flight.

Keywords： Fluid mechanics micro air vechicle flapping wing power requirements computational fluid dynamics