Abstract
The development of flapping wing systems has been restricted by high power density requirements, comparatively large forces and the requirement for light weight. The use of linear electromagnetic actuators has had a small presence in the flapping wing literature when compared to other actuator types. This has been due to the high power consumption and low power output of this system when compared to resonant systems. This work assesses linear electromagnetic actuators presented in the literature and demonstrates the performance improvements achieved when the mechanism natural frequency is appropriately tuned. This process shows a reduction of input power consumption to 13% of the original power consumption. This improvement, combined with appropriate power electronic design, can reduce the perceived gap between linear electromagnetic actuators and solid-state actuators.
Highlights
Flapping wing micro air vehicles (FWMAVs) are biologically inspired vehicles that designers hope will mimic the maneuverability and dynamics observed in birds and insects
40% decrease in input power requirements. This argues that if designing a FWMAV to operate at resonance, acknowledging the potential performance penalties [14], electromagnetic actuators have a clear place with their power density and efficient power electronics
Linear electromagnetic actuators have been criticised for their high input power requirements when compared to other systems
Summary
Flapping wing micro air vehicles (FWMAVs) are biologically inspired vehicles that designers hope will mimic the maneuverability and dynamics observed in birds and insects. RoboBee utilises piezoelectric actuators configured to undergo small bending amplitudes when energised This bending motion is amplified through a four-bar mechanism to achieve the desired flapping amplitude. These systems use an actuator with a high power density of 467 W/kg [3]. A hindrance to the successful implementation of piezoelectric actuators is the requirement for light weight and efficient boost converters generating in the order of 200 V This must be generated from a energy store such as such single cell batteries, super-capacitors or solar panels which are generally low voltage. Alternatives to piezoelectric actuators have typically been various configurations of electromagnetic rotary motors These include the use of wing coupled rotary motors in conjunction with large reduction gearboxes to achieve useful torques and velocities. Exploring how system design can affect the performance of the craft while considering the implications for power electronics
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