Evaluation of Bird-Wing-Inspired Features on Biomimetic UAVs

摘要

Some small UAVs have been designed to resemble birds so that they can blend in with nature when seen from a distance. Wings with various tip configurations were compared to a control wing to observe the variations in aerodynamic performance. Computer simulations were performed to determine expected results and then wings were designed and constructed for wind-tunnel tests to obtain experimental performance data. The wing was built in a standard rectangular configuration and featured an interchangeable plate on the tip to test the effect of the wing slots (feathers that project from the tips) and to see if changing the shape and length of the slots increases the effective aspect ratio (and therefore efficiency). Particle image velocimetry tests in a wind tunnel were performed to observe the vortex created by the wing and how the flow around the wingtips was affected by the changes in the wing slots. Circulation was then calculated and used to find coefficient of lift using the Kutta-Joukowski Theorem. The results were then compared to determine the most effective combination of performance and realistic look to create a bird-mimicking MAV.