Fluid•DTU seminar, Tuesday, October 26, 2010, at 11:00, Bldg. 306 Aud. 36

 

 

 A Resonant Amplificator Engine for Nano Air Vehicles at the Insect Scale

 

 Antonio Filippone
 University of Manchester

 

 

 

 

Abstract:

 

We  have reproduced  flight  at  the weight scale of dipteran insects by using  resonant movement amplification.   The new propulsion concept  has been applied to  a nano  air  vehicle powered by  hoverfly (chrysotoxum cautum) and  honey  bee (apis mellifera) wings.   The insect-size devices have weights in the range 30mg to 50mg, wing spans of 2 to 3 cm and produce vertical thrust-to-weight ratios in excess of 2.7.   They convert the  small mechanical  deformations from  a bonded piezoelectric  ceramic   material  into  large   wing  deflections  at frequencies between 700 and 900 Hz.  The flapping kinematics is achieved without  using complex transmissions; it offers low friction  and high  power density.   We will demonstrate control of vertical flight and roll control using different drive signals. The new resonant engine is highly significant and a potential paradigm change for understanding small insect scale flight.