LARGE-AREA ELECTROSTATIC-VALVED SKINS FOR ADAPTIVEFLOW CONTROL ON ORNITHOPTER WINGS

摘要

This paper presents the design and fabrication of wafer-sizedparylene skins with integrated electrostatic valves used for realtimeadaptive airflow control on ornithopter wings. For the firsttime, we report successful aerodynamic control in both lift andthrust using MEMS active-valved wings. By distributingelectrostatic valves, the pressure distribution on the wings can becontrolled during flapping. The valved wings were tested in a lowspeedwind tunnel to measure influence on aerodynamicperformance. It was found the lift and thrust generated by thewings in flapping motion can increase by 18% when the valves areactuated.