Unlike most modem aircraft, which have a vertical tail component, birds fly utilizing a purely horizontal tail. In order to provide control normally associated with a vertical rudder, bird's tails are incredibly mobile, twisting, pitching, and widening to perform necessary aerial maneuvers. This research primarily focuses on the development and testing of a mechanical planform morphing horizontal control surface, aiming to emulate the tail-spread control action of birds. This horizontal control surface is implemented on a small, tailless, avian inspired unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). In this research, the horizontal control surface, made entirely of 3D printed material, comprises a rigid overlapping top layer held together by a soft and elastic honeycomb bottom layer, allowing for shape morphing without compromising structural integrity required to withstand aerodynamic forces. Using the relatively large strain and strength offered by shape memory alloy (SMA) springs, the 3D printed horizontal tail undergoes a notable and consistent geometric change. To quantify the system's performance, the tail width and center was measured while actuating the springs through a range of frequencies from 0.01 to 10 Hz. Preliminary experiments were conducted in a lft. × 1 ft. open loop wind tunnel at the University of Michigan at wind speeds of 5, 10 and 15 m/s to quantify the effects of aerodynamic loading on actuation magnitude and speed.
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机译:与大多数具有垂直尾翼组件的现代飞机不同,鸟类利用纯水平尾翼飞行。为了提供通常与垂直舵相关的控制,鸟尾不可思议地移动,扭曲,俯仰和加宽,以执行必要的空中操纵。这项研究主要集中在机械平面变形水平控制表面的开发和测试上,旨在模拟鸟类的尾巴传播控制行为。该水平控制面安装在小型,无尾翼,禽类启发的无人机(UAV)上。在这项研究中,水平控制表面完全由3D打印材料制成,包括一个刚性重叠的顶层,该顶层由柔软且有弹性的蜂窝状底层保持在一起,从而允许形状变形而不会损害承受空气动力的结构完整性。使用形状记忆合金(SMA)弹簧提供的相对较大的应变和强度,3D打印的水平尾巴会发生显着且一致的几何变化。为了量化系统的性能,测量了尾巴的宽度和中心,同时在0.01到10 Hz的频率范围内致动弹簧。初步实验在最后进行。 ×密歇根大学的1英尺开环风洞,风速为5、10和15 m / s,以量化气动载荷对驱动量和速度的影响。
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