Compared to the conventional uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs), the bat-inspired flying robots possess the advantages of high maneuverability and agility, quiet operation, to name a few. In the state-of-the-art, a significant gap still exists in the accurate aerodynamic modeling of the bat robots. In this study, we have developed the prototype of a bat-inspired robot with flapping and flexible wing membranes, and investigated its aerodynamic profile. Motivated by Cynopterus brachyotis, our robot incorporates the bat’s wing morphology to optimize its flight performance. Using the devised wind tunnel experimental setup, the robot prototype has been tested over a speed range of 1.4 - 5 m/s, with the body angles ranging from \(0^\circ \) to \(10^\circ \) . Aerodynamic coefficients were experimentally quantified by averaging instantaneous measurements across the flapping cycle. The wind tunnel results showcase the effect of the leading-edge vortex (LEV) and the limit cycle oscillations (LCO) from the interaction between airflow and membrane. The instantaneous results obtained pave the way in aerodynamic modeling and analysis of the bat robots, which can be expanded to the study of flying robots with flapping-membrane wings.

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Experimental Study of Bat-Inspired Robot Aerodynamics Using Wind Tunnel Test

  • Tingting Sui,
  • Ting Zou

摘要

Compared to the conventional uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs), the bat-inspired flying robots possess the advantages of high maneuverability and agility, quiet operation, to name a few. In the state-of-the-art, a significant gap still exists in the accurate aerodynamic modeling of the bat robots. In this study, we have developed the prototype of a bat-inspired robot with flapping and flexible wing membranes, and investigated its aerodynamic profile. Motivated by Cynopterus brachyotis, our robot incorporates the bat’s wing morphology to optimize its flight performance. Using the devised wind tunnel experimental setup, the robot prototype has been tested over a speed range of 1.4 - 5 m/s, with the body angles ranging from \(0^\circ \) to \(10^\circ \) . Aerodynamic coefficients were experimentally quantified by averaging instantaneous measurements across the flapping cycle. The wind tunnel results showcase the effect of the leading-edge vortex (LEV) and the limit cycle oscillations (LCO) from the interaction between airflow and membrane. The instantaneous results obtained pave the way in aerodynamic modeling and analysis of the bat robots, which can be expanded to the study of flying robots with flapping-membrane wings.