Experimental Studies of Tail Shapes for Hummingbird-Like Flapping Wing Micro Air Vehicles

Yanghai Nan,Don Mcglinchey,Yun Li,Yi Chen

doi:10.1109/access.2020.2981190

Yanghai Nan, Don Mcglinchey + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1109/access.2020.2981190

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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.

Highlights

Many of flapping-wing micro air vehicle (MAV) inspired by the natural flyers from large birds to tiny insects are studied
Currently, many of flapping-wing MAV inspired by the natural flyers from large birds to tiny insects are studied
When the fork ratio is higher than 2 (FR > 2), the tail shape can be roughly defined as an elongated forktail

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Many of flapping-wing MAV inspired by the natural flyers from large birds to tiny insects are studied. Hummingbirds, as the smallest birds in the world from about 2 grams to nearly 20 grams [1] have been studied by plenty of researchers, due to the agile flight and manoeuvrability and hovering flight The aerodynamic performance studies of tail shape are meaningful and significant for a stable flight of flapping wing MAVs. In this paper, the natural hummingbird’s tail morphology is studied first, followed by designing, testing and optimizing the artificial tails. In terms of a natural glider, they perform symmetrically banked turns and reorient laterally the vertical force, and the yaw turn is realized [30], whereas hummingbirds realize pure yaw turns by just flapping wings.

FORK RATIO

TAIL ASPECT RATIO

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION