Experimental Studies of Tail Shapes for Hummingbird-Like Flapping Wing Micro Air Vehicles
Yanghai Nan, Yi Chen, Don McGlinchey, Yun Li
Abstract
The stability of flying of a hummingbird-like flapping-wing micro air vehicle (MAV) has been challenging. In this paper, experimental studies are reported on the tail shapes of hummingbird-like flapping-wing MAVs, since tails play an important role in-flight stability. Dynamics parameters of hummingbird tails are firstly studied and evaluated. Then man-made tails inspired by the natural hummingbirds are designed, manufactured and optimized for experimental tests. The results show that lift generated by the tail is independent of a fan angle, whereas the pitch moment is related to the fan angle. Further, the tail can be applied to stabilising hovering twin-wing flapping wing MAVs.
Topics & Concepts
HummingbirdFlappingWingAerospace engineeringLift (data mining)Wing loadingLongitudinal static stabilityAngle of attackWing twistBird flightPhysicsWingtip deviceMicro air vehicleAerodynamicsComputer scienceEngineeringBiologyEcologyData miningBiomimetic flight and propulsion mechanismsAerospace Engineering and Energy SystemsFluid Dynamics and Turbulent Flows