Payload and Power for Dynamically Similar Flapping Wing Hovering Flight on Mars

摘要

To date, there has been no aircraft flight on Mars due to the inherent difficulties associated with the ultra-low density atmosphere. Our previous work demonstrated that the unique properties associated with low Reynolds number flapping wing flyers can overcome these challenges and successfully achieve hover on Mars. Navier-Stokes equations, fully coupled with a nonlinear flight dynamics model, showed that cicada sized wings can sustain the body mass of a bumblebee. In this study, the ability of bioinspired flapping wing flyers to carry a payload while maintaining dynamically similar motion is investigated. Our results suggest that bioinspired, dynamically scaled flapping wing flyers can carry a payload that is about 100% the body mass. Higher lift is obtained by either increasing the flap amplitude or the flap frequency. However, for a given payload, achieving hover with increased flapping amplitude is more efficient than increased flapping frequency, when considering the increased power required.