Optimal design of insect wing shape for hovering nano air vehicles

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Glen Throneberry ◽  
Mostafa Hassanalian ◽  
Abdessattar Abdelkefi
Keyword(s):  
Optimal Design ◽  
Wing Shape ◽  
Insect Wing ◽  
Air Vehicles

scholarly journals Bmmp influences wing shape by regulating anterior-posterior and proximal-distal axis development

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yunlong Zou ◽  
Xin Ding ◽  
Li Zhang ◽  
Lifeng Xu ◽  
Shubo Liang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Mapping ◽  
Wing Shape ◽  
Wing Development ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽  
Insect Wing ◽  
Expression Of Genes ◽  
Flight Capacity ◽  
Null Mutants ◽  
Anterior Posterior

Insect wings are subject to strong selective pressure, resulting in the evolution of remarkably diverse wing shapes that largely determine flight capacity. However, the genetic basis and regulatory mechanisms underlying wing shape development are not well understood. The silkworm Bombyx mori micropterous ( mp ) mutant exhibits shortened wing length and enlarged vein spacings , albeit without changes in total wing area. Thus, the mp mutant comprises a valuable genetic resource for studying wing shape development. In this study, we used molecular mapping to identify the gene responsible for the mp phenotype and designated it Bmmp . Phenotype-causing mutations were identified as indels and single nucleotide polymorphisms in non-coding regions. These mutations resulted in decreased Bmmp mRNA levels and changes in transcript isoform composition. Bmmp null mutants were generated by CRISPR/Cas9 and exhibited significantly smaller wings. By examining the expression of genes critical to wing development in wildtype and Bmmp null mutants, we found that Bm mp exerts its function by coordinately modulating anterior-posterior and proximal-distal axis development. We also studied a Drosophila mp mutant and found that Bmmp is functionally conserved in Drosophila . The Drosophila mp mutant strain exhibits curly wings of reduced size and a complete loss of flight capacity. Our results increase our understanding of the mechanisms underpinning insect wing development and reveal potential targets for pest control.

scholarly journals Insect-like flapping wing mechanism based on a double spherical Scotch yoke

2005 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 223-235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cezary Galiński ◽  
Rafał Żbikowski
Keyword(s):  
Insect Flight ◽  
Micro Air Vehicles ◽  
Flapping Wing ◽  
Controlled Study ◽  
Concept Design ◽  
Test Bed ◽  
Insect Wing ◽  
Flying Insects ◽  
Adjustable Mechanism ◽  
Air Vehicles

We describe the rationale, concept, design and implementation of a fixed-motion (non-adjustable) mechanism for insect-like flapping wing micro air vehicles in hover, inspired by two-winged flies (Diptera). This spatial (as opposed to planar) mechanism is based on the novel idea of a double spherical Scotch yoke. The mechanism was constructed for two main purposes: (i) as a test bed for aeromechanical research on hover in flapping flight, and (ii) as a precursor design for a future flapping wing micro air vehicle. Insects fly by oscillating (plunging) and rotating (pitching) their wings through large angles, while sweeping them forwards and backwards. During this motion the wing tip approximately traces a ‘figure-of-eight’ or a ‘banana’ and the wing changes the angle of attack (pitching) significantly. The kinematic and aerodynamic data from free-flying insects are sparse and uncertain, and it is not clear what aerodynamic consequences different wing motions have. Since acquiring the necessary kinematic and dynamic data from biological experiments remains a challenge, a synthetic, controlled study of insect-like flapping is not only of engineering value, but also of biological relevance. Micro air vehicles are defined as flying vehicles approximately 150 mm in size (hand-held), weighing 50–100 g, and are developed to reconnoitre in confined spaces (inside buildings, tunnels, etc.). For this application, insect-like flapping wings are an attractive solution and hence the need to realize the functionality of insect flight by engineering means. Since the semi-span of the insect wing is constant, the kinematics are spatial; in fact, an approximate figure-of-eight/banana is traced on a sphere. Hence a natural mechanism implementing such kinematics should be (i) spherical and (ii) generate mathematically convenient curves expressing the figure-of-eight/banana shape. The double spherical Scotch yoke design has property (i) by definition and achieves (ii) by tracing spherical Lissajous curves.

Evolutionary shape optimisation enhances the lift coefficient of rotating wing geometries

2019 ◽  
Vol 868 ◽  
pp. 369-384 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shantanu S. Bhat ◽  
Jisheng Zhao ◽  
John Sheridan ◽  
Kerry Hourigan ◽  
Mark C. Thompson
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Lift Coefficient ◽  
Micro Air Vehicles ◽  
Aerodynamic Performance ◽  
Wing Shape ◽  
Shape Optimisation ◽  
Large Area ◽  
Aerodynamic Pressure ◽  
Performance Requirements ◽  
Air Vehicles

Wing shape is an important factor affecting the aerodynamic performance of wings of monocopters and flapping-wing micro air vehicles. Here, an evolutionary structural optimisation method is adapted to optimise wing shape to enhance the lift force due to aerodynamic pressure on the wing surfaces. The pressure distribution is observed to vary with the span-based Reynolds number over a range covering most insects and samaras. Accordingly, the optimised wing shapes derived using this evolutionary approach are shown to adjust with Reynolds number. Moreover, these optimised shapes exhibit significantly higher lift coefficients (${\sim}50\,\%$) than the initial rectangular wing forebear. Interestingly, the optimised shapes are found to have a large area outboard, broadly in line with the features of high-lift forewings of multi-winged insects. According to specific aerodynamic performance requirements, this novel method could be employed in the optimisation of improved wing shapes for micro air vehicles.

scholarly journals Approach to insect wing shape and deformation field measurement

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Duo Yin ◽  
Zhen Wei ◽  
Zeyu Wang
Keyword(s):  
Field Measurement ◽  
Local Deformation ◽  
Wing Shape ◽  
Deformation Field ◽  
Concentrated Force ◽  
Insect Wing ◽  
Summary Statement ◽  
Static Criterion ◽  
Stiffness Distribution ◽  
Better Than

Summary StatementA fine shape and deformation field measurement of insect wing is achieved by a self-developed setup. This measurement could foster investigation of insect wing stiffness distribution.AbstractFor measuring the shape and deformation of insect wing, a scanning setup adopting line laser and coaxial LED light is developed. Wing shape can be directly acquired from the line laser images by triangulation. Yet the wing deformation field can also be obtained by a self-devised algorithm that processes the images from line laser and coaxial LED simultaneously. During the experiment, three wing samples from termite and mosquito under concentrated force are scanned. The venation and corrugation could be significantly identified from shape measurement result. The deformation field is sufficiently accurate to demonstrate its variation from wing base to tip. The load conditions in experiments are also be discussed. For softer wings, local deformation is apparent if pinhead is employed to impose force. The similarity analysis is better than 5% deformation ratio as a static criterion, if the wing is simplified as a cantilever beam. The setup is proved to be effective and versatile. The shape and deformation fields would give enough details for the measurement of wing stiffness distribution.

Wing shape and dynamic twist design of bio-inspired nano air vehicles for forward flight purposes

2017 ◽  
Vol 68 ◽  
pp. 518-529 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Hassanalian ◽  
G. Throneberry ◽  
A. Abdelkefi
Keyword(s):  
Wing Shape ◽  
Forward Flight ◽  
Air Vehicles

scholarly journals Insights into Sensitivity of Wing Shape and Kinematic Parameters Relative to Aerodynamic Performance of Flapping Wing Nano Air Vehicles

Drones ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 49 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Throneberry ◽  
M. Hassanalian ◽  
A. Abdelkefi
Keyword(s):  
Aerodynamic Characteristics ◽  
Aerodynamic Performance ◽  
Flapping Wing ◽  
Wing Shape ◽  
Physical Factors ◽  
Kinematic Parameters ◽  
Aerodynamic Forces ◽  
Hovering Flight ◽  
Time Histories ◽  
Air Vehicles

In this work, seven wings inspired from insects’ wings, including those inspired by the bumblebee, cicada, cranefly, fruitfly, hawkmoth, honeybee, and twisted parasite, are patterned and analyzed in FlapSim software in forward and hovering flight modes for two scenarios, namely, similar wingspan (20 cm) and wing surface (0.005 m2). Considering their similar kinematics, the time histories of the aerodynamic forces of lift, thrust, and required mechanical power of the inspired wings are calculated, shown, and compared for both scenarios. The results obtained from FlapSim show that wing shape strongly impacts the performance and aerodynamic characteristics of the chosen seven wings. To study the effects of different geometrical and physical factors including flapping frequency, elevation amplitude, pronation amplitude, stroke-plane angle, flight speed, wing material, and wingspan, several analyses are carried out on the honeybee-inspired shape, which had a 20 cm wingspan. This study can be used to evaluate the efficiency of different bio-inspired wing shapes and may provide a guideline for comparing the performance of flapping wing nano air vehicles with forward flight and hovering capabilities.

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