A Review of Active Blade Twist Technology: Part II – Integral Twist Actuation

2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 26-36
Author(s):  
Pascual Marques ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Twist Actuation

Active Bend-Twist PZT Actuator for Centimeter-Scale Flapping Wing Micro-Air Vehicle

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asha J. Hall ◽  
Jaret C. Riddick
Keyword(s):  
Insect Flight ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Flapping Wing ◽  
Micro Air Vehicle ◽  
Degree Of Freedom ◽  
Control Surface ◽  
Simultaneous Excitation ◽  
Flexural Response ◽  
Air Vehicle ◽  
Twist Actuation

The present study focuses on development of a flapping wing micro-air vehicle (FWMAV) that employs a piezoelectric actuator to drive the leading edge of the wing. An analysis of insect flight indicates that in addition to the bending excitation (flapping), simultaneous excitation of the twisting degree-of-freedom is required to adequately manipulate the control surface. A functionally-modified piezoelectric bimorph composed of Pb(Zr0.55Ti0.45)O3 (PZT) is being used to produce two degree-of-freedom motion, namely the flapping and twisting facilitated by an off-axis layer of piezoelectric segments affixed to the top surface of a traditional bimorph actuator. The modification of the top surface of a traditional PZT bimorph actuator introduces active bend-twist coupling to the flexural response of the resulting layered PZT. This paper presents analytical and experimental investigation of functionally-modified bimorph designs intended for active bend-twist actuation of cm-scale flapping wing devices.

Numerical Investigation of the Response of Active Bend-Twist PZT Actuator

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaret C. Riddick ◽  
Asha J. Hall ◽  
Oliver J. Myers
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Investigation ◽  
Insect Flight ◽  
Micro Air Vehicles ◽  
Flapping Wing ◽  
Control Surface ◽  
Finite Element Analyses ◽  
Pzt Actuator ◽  
Simultaneous Excitation ◽  
Flexural Response ◽  
Twist Actuation

Army combat operations have placed a high premium on reconnaissance missions for micro air vehicles (MAVs). An analysis of insect flight indicates that in addition to the bending excitation (flapping), simultaneous excitation of the twisting degree-of-freedom is required to manipulate the control surface adequately. By adding a layer of angled piezoelectric segments to a Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 (also referred to as PZT) bimorph actuator, a bend-twist coupling may be introduced to the flexural response of the layered PZT, thereby creating a biaxial actuator capable of driving wing oscillation in flapping wing MAVs. The present study presents numerical investigation of the response of functionally–modified bimorph designs intended for active bend-twist actuation of cm-scale flapping wing devices. The relationships of geometry and orientation of the angled segments with bimorph bend-twist response will be presented using results of finite-element analyses.

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